Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

The Holy Spirit indwelling the born-again believer illuminates the mind so that he is able to understand God’s Word.

The Holy Spirit’s guidance was Jesus’ promise to His disciples before He went to the cross prior to His death, resurrection and ascension to heaven. Though He will not be bodily with them, His Spirit will help them – John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

The Apostle Paul cites from this Old Testament text from book of Isaiah though not in its exact form:

Isaiah 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

He tells us that the eye, the ear and the heart or mind of man cannot possibly know the way for sinful man to be reconciled to his God. God has to reveal it. Man’s wisdom, in the strength of all his senses, cannot perceive the way to God, the knowledge of salvation.

It is sad that the princes or the rulers of this world have not understood and known Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. They would not acknowledge and submit to His headship. Though vested with power over men, they were blind toward the things of God.

Jesus said in Matthew 19:23-25 “…Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?”

The power of God is surely able to save – Matthew 19:26 “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

The knowledge of the gospel is true wisdom and yet a mystery, an enigma. It is wisdom hidden to the lost. But for the children of God, it is the wisdom and power of God. The glorious gospel of salvation. It is precious to the saved. It is fable and filth to the skeptics and scoffers.

For this generation of believers, it is the doctrine of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ that is yet a mystery. The world will prepare for Christ’s coming by mounting telescopes to explain away the story of an alien invasion. But for the redeemed, it is a time to preach the gospel and warn the world of God’s impending judgment when Christ returns. This earth will eventually be destroyed!

The “perfect” here refers to those the believers who are saved and have imbibed God’s wisdom in their lives enabling them to grow toward spiritual maturity. The word means “complete or mature”. The Apostle Paul observes also that human wisdom is fruitless because it is crooked and lacking. It brings no lasting value to those who imbibed its teaching. Wisdom from God emanates from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul understands that he is simply a vessel fully surrendered and given to the Master’s use. He shared that the old Saul has been crucified with Christ. He experienced the power of God when he was struck down by a bright light from heaven and lose his sight for three days. But in that encounter, he learned to fear God. He understood how weak and sinful he is, persecuting his Christ.

The Apostle Paul would have failed to qualify for any TED talk. There is a deliberateness on his part that he must not get in the way of presenting the gospel in its fullness and in its simplicity by any of his own wisdom. He does not speak “sleek” words that will attract the people to listen. He instead relied on the power of God’s Word and the mighty Holy Spirit to evangelise and to save.