Episode 915
Exploring Divine Wisdom: Insights from First Corinthians
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE.
Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
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Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
An examination of First Corinthians 2:12-16 reveals a rich tapestry of themes centered around the nature of divine wisdom and its contrast with human understanding. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that the wisdom of God is not a mere accumulation of knowledge but a deep, spiritual insight that requires discernment and a relationship with the divine. I find it compelling how Paul articulates that this wisdom is hidden from those who operate solely on a surface level, and instead, it is revealed to those who earnestly seek a deeper connection with God through the Holy Spirit.
Throughout our discussion, we unpack the implications of this divine wisdom as it relates to our modern context. In an era inundated with information and rapid-fire opinions, Paul's message serves as a poignant reminder that true wisdom often resides in the quiet, contemplative spaces of our lives. We reflect on how spiritual wisdom challenges societal norms, particularly those that prioritize status and conventional knowledge over genuine spiritual insight. This wisdom calls us to question the assumptions we hold and to engage in a transformative dialogue with the divine that reshapes our understanding of truth and purpose.
Moreover, I emphasize the radical inclusivity of God's wisdom, which invites all individuals, irrespective of their backgrounds, to access spiritual insights that can lead to profound personal and communal change. We conclude with a practical exercise in contemplative silence, encouraging listeners to embrace this practice as a means of fostering deeper spiritual understanding and action. Through this intentional engagement, we are empowered to not only seek personal enlightenment but also to advocate for justice and compassion in our communities, embodying the essence of Christ's teachings.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the profound contrast between worldly wisdom and divine wisdom, urging listeners to seek deeper spiritual understanding.
- Listeners are encouraged to practice contemplative silence, allowing themselves to be open to God's wisdom and insights.
- The episode highlights the radical inclusivity of spiritual knowledge, asserting that all individuals can access divine wisdom without intermediaries.
- A significant theme discussed is the responsibility of spiritual wisdom to inspire action towards social justice and the betterment of society.
- The podcast encourages a personal relationship with God, emphasizing that spiritual truths are to be learned through direct communion with the divine.
- Dr. Brad Miller articulates the goal of spreading the message of God's word to two million individuals by the year 2028.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- voiceofgoddaily.com
Transcript
Divine Wisdom beyond the Surface A Study based on First Corinthians 2:12 16 on the Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller hello my good friends.
Speaker A:Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:This is our visit together into the New Testament of the Bible.
Speaker A:We read from the Message version.
Speaker A:We make a verse that is understandable by reading from the message, relatable by giving you some points to ponder applicable, giving you an action step to follow.
Speaker A:We have a prayer.
Speaker A:We do it all in under 10 minutes or so.
Speaker A: on ears, a million people, by: Speaker A:We select the reading from today's lesson from the Revised Common Lectionary.
Speaker A:We're in Year C of that cycle, the Pentecost Season.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com that's the home of our resource the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A:Let's get into today's reading from First Corinthians 212 16.
Speaker A:Reading from the Message we of course have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground.
Speaker A:But it's not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high priced experts that will be out of date in a year or so.
Speaker A:God's wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes.
Speaker A:You don't find it lying around on the surface.
Speaker A:It's not the latest message, but more like the oldest.
Speaker A:What God determined as the way to bring out the best in us long before we ever arrived on the scene.
Speaker A:The experts of our day haven't a clue about what this eternal plan is.
Speaker A:If they had, they wouldn't have killed the master of the God designed life on a cross.
Speaker A:That's why we have this scripture text.
Speaker A:Here it is.
Speaker A:No one's ever seen or heard anything like this.
Speaker A:Never so much as imagine anything quite like it.
Speaker A:What God has arranged for those who love Him.
Speaker A:But you've seen and heard it because of God, by His Spirit has brought it out into the open before you.
Speaker A:The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God and brings out what God planned all along.
Speaker A:Whoever knows what you're thinking and planning, except you yourself.
Speaker A:The same with God, except that he not only knows what he's thinking, but he lets us in on it.
Speaker A:God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that he is giving us.
Speaker A:We don't have to rely on the world's guesses and opinions.
Speaker A:We didn't learn this by reading books or by going to school.
Speaker A:We learned it from God, who taught us person to person through Jesus.
Speaker A:And we're passing it on to you in the same firsthand, personal way.
Speaker A:The unspiritual self, just by its nature, can't receive the gifts of God's spirit.
Speaker A:There's no capacity for them.
Speaker A:They seem like so much silliness.
Speaker A:Spirit can be known only by spirit, God's spirit and our spirits in open communion.
Speaker A:Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God's spirit is doing and can't be judged by unspiritual critics.
Speaker A:Isaiah's question is there anyone around who knows God's spirit?
Speaker A:Anyone who knows what he is doing has been answered.
Speaker A:Christ knows and we have Christ Spirit.
Speaker A:Wow, what a profound reading from First Corinthians.
Speaker A:And we're exploring here this really fascinating passage from Paul's letter to the church at Corinth that challenges us to think deeply about spiritual wisdom and our connection to God the divine.
Speaker A:Here's some points to ponder.
Speaker A:One is about divine wisdom versus worldly knowledge.
Speaker A:Paul draws a stark contrast between conventional wisdom and God's deeper truth.
Speaker A:In our age of constant information and viral hot takes, this reminder is particularly relevant.
Speaker A:True spiritual wisdom isn't found in trending topics or popular opinion, but in deep contemplative connection with the divine, with God.
Speaker A:This wisdom often challenges the status quo and power structures and just as Jesus did.
Speaker A:Another point is about radical inclusivity of divine godlike understanding.
Speaker A:While some religious traditions emphasize exclusive access to God through specific rituals or people or hierarchies, Paul suggests something revolutionary direct personal access to God's divine wisdom through the Spirit.
Speaker A:This democratization of spiritual understanding reinforces that everyone, regardless of education, status or background, can experience deep communion with God.
Speaker A:One more point, and that's about spirit led social justice.
Speaker A:When Paul speaks of God's spirit and our spirits in open communion, he's describing a transformative relationship that should impact how we engage with the world.
Speaker A:This spiritual wisdom isn't just about personal enlightenment.
Speaker A:It should lead us to recognize injustice, challenge oppressive systems, and work toward collective liberation, just as Jesus did.
Speaker A:Here's your action step.
Speaker A:Practice Spirit Led listening set aside 10 minutes or so to sit in contemplative silence.
Speaker A:Instead of asking for answers, focus on opening yourself to wisdom, to God's wisdom.
Speaker A:Pay special attention to promptings that challenge your comfortable assumptions or call you to act with justice for your community.
Speaker A:We'll pray in just a moment.
Speaker A:Always want to let you know we have a resource for you that you want to take advantage of.
Speaker A:It's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Guide.
Speaker A:It will help you with your daily Bible study.
Speaker A:You go over to our website, voiceofgoddaily.com it's free to you go there and pick it up.
Speaker A:Let's pray.
Speaker A:Oh God, you are a divine spirit.
Speaker A:We come to you with open hearts and questioning minds and help us move beyond surface level spirituality to the deeper wisdom you offer.
Speaker A:Guide us as we challenge the fashionable wisdom of our time and seek your truth.
Speaker A:Give us courage to act on the understanding you provide, especially when it calls us to stand with the marginalized and work for justice.
Speaker A:Remind us that we are all connected in your love and that your wisdom is available to all of us who seek it.
Speaker A:And the spirit of Jesus, who challenged us with the powerful, challenged us, who challenged the powerful and lifted up the lowly.
Speaker A:We pray.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Hey, it's good to be with you here on Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:My name is Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:I'll be with you again tomorrow morning.
Speaker A:We usually drop our episodes before 6am hey, why don't you join me, subscribe to the podcast and ask a friend to join us.
Speaker A: th the audible word of God by: Speaker A:So tomorrow, friends, I'll see you then.
Speaker A:Remember that God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up.
Speaker A:It's created new.
Speaker A:Everybody.
Speaker A:Sam.
