Gift of Spirit Message:
~~ Foolishness, or wisdom? ~~
Here is test God showed me, which you can use to see if you have a carnal mind or a spiritual mind.
1Cor. 2:12–Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13–Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the HOLY GHOST teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Paul clearly said in 1Cor. 12 that all the gifts of the spirit are of the Spirit of God. Speaking in tongues is one of these spiritual things. We must compare these spiritual things with other spiritual things. So, when you try to take this into the natural realm and say that speaking in tongues is a natural, wrong thing done by voodoo people and such; you are not wise; you are not comparing Spiritual things with spiritual.
v14—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.
So, when one cannot receive the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues, he is in this group which is NATURAL AND CANNOT RECEIVE THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT; for to him it is foolish. Now if you consider it to be foolish, this shows you where you are; [ just a natural man; without a spiritual mind]
15–But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
Now:
1Cor. 1:18–For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish FOOLISHNESS; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
v19–For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
v20–Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made FOOLISH the WISDOM of this world?
v21–For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the FOOLISHNESS of preaching to save them that believe.
Now, see here, that God called preaching ‘foolishness’. But is it really foolishness? He is showing that to the world, it is foolish. He showed that by THEIR wisdom [ wisdom of this world]–they could not know God.
So then, it is two different wisdoms he is speaking of.
v23–But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks FOOLISHNESS;
v24—BUT unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the WISDOM of God.
So, don’t you see, here that God is showing that what the World calls FOOLISHNESS is really the WISDOM and POWER of God??
v25–Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
v27—But God hath chosen the FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD to confound the WISE; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
[So here it shows that what the world calls FOOLISH = speaking in tongues to have the Holy Ghost; preaching;] is actually used of God to confound = confuse them. That is why all who call these things of His Spirit foolish are in confusion.] for he clearly showed that this is of His Spirit.
v28 –And base things of the world, and things which are DESPISED, [by the natural man] hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are :
v29–That NO FLESH should glory in his presence. [so how is a fleshly man getting glory?]
So, here it shows that what the World calls FOOLISHNESS is actually God’s choice; his wisdom; his power; things which are of His Spirit.
God’s FOOLISHNESS = preaching, speaking in tongues, etc. [the things of His Spirit] these gifts of His spirit— are the world’s FOOLISHNESS— yet it is wiser than the whole world.
His workings here, [these gifts, these preaching, these speaking in tongues, etc] are his FOOLISHNESS = compared to His Heavenly workings, this is His ‘least’.
His weakness = letting us sinners be saved by hearing his word preached; then receiving His Spirit by the Baptism of the Holy Ghost by the FOOLISHNESS [to the world] of speaking in tongues; is greater than their strongest place.
WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE!!!
Now back to cp.2:14–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.
So, here is your testing ground: do you call the things of His Spirit = preaching, speaking in tongues [for the Word clearly says this is of His Spirit] is this FOOLISHNESS to you?
If so, it proves that you have a natural, carnal mind; not a spiritual mind. If you have a spiritual mind, you can discern that Speaking in tongues is of His Spirit. If you think it is foolish, you have a carnal = dead mind.