First Corinthians Chapters 2 & 3

            These chapters are so filled with the richness and revelation of our incredible God, and the overwhelming beauty of the Trinity. Paul so intricately wove the mystery of our one and only Father, Jesus our Savior, and Holy Spirit our counselor deeply into this text. And in this text we can discover where our dependency needs to be founded, where our identity should be established, and how the Spirit who intercedes for us, knows every thought of Christ was given to us to illuminate the Word and teach us Christ’s perceptions and empower us to walk an obedient, pure and holy walk set apart from the world.

            God our father is powerful, (1 Cor 2:5). He is wisdom (1 Cor. 2:7), He is our life planner (1. Cor. 2:7) and His plans are good-and were made before the beginning of time to bring us into His glory (1 Cor. 2:7). He has so many undiscovered truths, and treasures for all of His beloved (1 Cor. 2:9). And He so desires to reveal through the Holy Spirit more and more of His deep love for us. (1 Cor. 2:10 As I read the words Paul penned in 1 Cor. 2:5 “For God intended that your faith not be established on man’s wisdom but by trusting in His almighty power.” I was gently reminded this last week that my dependency could either rest in man’s wisdom (my own understanding,) or I could release all things I don’t understand into the powerful almighty hands of a God who knows me intimately and chose me before the beginning of time to carry out His purposes and let His Glory be shown to me.

            Awe the gorgeous mystery of the saving power of the cross, jumped out to me in these chapters in a way that reaffirmed many of the truths that Jesus intended His beloved to grasp as we walk out our journeys with Him. I saw four identity verses that have impacted my life deeply in the last 10 years or so. Maybe there are more that I missed tucked in to the words in these chapters. But the 4 that prominently were highlighted to me were I am God’s Holy Temple, (1 Cor. 3:16), I am God’s co-worker (1 Cor. 3:19), I have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) and I am Holy (1 Cor. 3:17). Jesus our Savior endured the cross and laid down His life for His bride to give us a new life, and a new identity in Him. This new identity is not something we have earned, but something we have been freely given. The truth of who we are in Him, believing these truths and severing ties in our thinking, can in turn break old mindsets and dependencies and set us free to make choices with our actions, attitudes and relationships that set us apart from the world and empower us to live Holy and deeply and more intimately with our Savior Jesus.

            Jesus gave us another incredible and undeserved gift and that is the Holy Spirit. Paul describes the beauty of a deep relationship with the Holy Spirit. With a heart that desires to be matured in Christ, comes the breath of the Spirit of God who illuminates God’s Word to His bride and makes our eyes and our spirits come alive to the profound realities of a life lived in the safety and security of Jesus Christ. Jesus has given us access to unlock more of His inmost heart for His bride. Paul speaks of a call to maturity in Christ and being either dominated by the flesh or being empowered in our thinking to be dominated by Holy Spirit-which brings life.

            As we grow deeper in dependency on God our powerful father, and walk deeper into the securing truths of our identity in Jesus, and seek the life changing thoughts of the Spirit of the most Holy God we can begin to be co-workers with Christ (1 Cor. 3:9) united to be builders of the kingdom of God. We are God’s inner sanctuary, His permanent home and abiding dwelling place (1 Cor. 3:16) and we are Holy because of the salvation of Jesus Christ. Do you desire growth in your relationship with the all-powerful, saving, empowering God? I know I do! God’s word says that God alone is the One who brings the supernatural growth (1 Cor. 3:7 TPT).

My prayer:

God your word says that dependency on you is a sure thing because you are Mighty and Powerful and your Supernaturally bring your believers into maturity and growth in our relationships with you. I lay down any earthly dependencies I have in relationships, things, circumstances, or anything that sets itself up against the knowledge of you and I choose to step into dependency in you. I ask that the truths of my new identity in you take up residency in my mind, will, and emotions. As I set my heart to seek you in your Word, I ask that you would illuminate and reveal to me the gifts and treasures that are available to me to walk a Spirit Empowered life. May you show me the thought that are immature and bring your supernatural growth and maturity even deeper in you.