Wisdom Greater than Pride

Written By Bill Craig

Listen to the Full Sermon Here

1 Corinthians 2 // Part 5 of Messy Church: Marvelous Grace - Pastor Bill Craig

The distinction between God's wisdom and worldly wisdom is crucial for Christians to understand. While worldly wisdom relies on human intellect and self-sufficiency, God's wisdom comes through divine revelation and the Holy Spirit's guidance.

What is God's True Wisdom?

God's wisdom surpasses human understanding and intellectual knowledge. It's not something we can obtain through education or personal effort alone. Rather, it's a divine gift revealed through the Holy Spirit to those who seek God with humility.

Paul emphasizes this in 1 Corinthians 2:7 (ESV): “But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.” This verse highlights that God's wisdom has always been part of His divine plan, hidden from the understanding of the world.

The rulers who crucified Jesus demonstrate how worldly wisdom fails to recognize divine truth. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:8 (ESV), “None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

How Do We Receive God's Wisdom?

God's wisdom comes through:

  • The indwelling of the Holy Spirit

  • Reading and studying Scripture

  • Spiritual discernment

  • Community with other believers

  • Humble submission to God's will

Paul affirms this in 1 Corinthians 2:10 (ESV): “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.” The natural person cannot comprehend spiritual truth without the Holy Spirit's help. This wisdom transforms us rather than merely informing us.

What Blocks Us from Receiving God's Wisdom?

Pride is the main obstacle that prevents us from receiving and walking in God's wisdom. When we rely on our own understanding and elevate ourselves above others, we:

  • Create disunity in the church

  • Grieve the Holy Spirit

  • Misuse biblical knowledge for self-promotion

  • Lose spiritual discernment

Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV): “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

Life Application

This week, focus on:

  • Being in God's Word daily while asking the Holy Spirit for guidance

  • Examining areas where pride might be blocking God's wisdom

  • Pursuing unity with other believers through humble study and fellowship

Ask yourself:

  • Am I relying more on worldly wisdom or God's wisdom in my daily decisions?

  • How might pride be preventing me from receiving God's truth?

  • Am I creating unity or division in my relationships and church community?

The challenge is to intentionally seek God's wisdom through His Spirit, rejecting worldly wisdom and pride. As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 2:16 (ESV): “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” Trust what the world calls foolish but God calls wise, and watch how it transforms your life and relationships.

Bill Craig
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Folly or Power