I Corinthians 1:20
Dr. Roberto Miranda
(Audio: English)
SUMMARY: The Christian faith is based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, rather than just intellectual understanding or doctrine. Christianity is founded on a spiritual reality that cannot be fully explained by the mind, but must be experienced through the power of the Holy Spirit. The vitality of a Christian community is not based on material possessions or intellectual understanding, but on the presence of the Holy Spirit. Christians should constantly measure their spiritual vitality and strive to remain filled with the power of the Spirit in order to fight against negative emotions and experiences. We must always be athletes of the spirit, striving to stay in shape spiritually.
In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of keeping our spiritual energy levels high through regular prayer and seeking the Lord. He compares the Christian life to a car, where all the complex pieces and apparatus are useless without fuel, oil, and electrical charge - in the same way, all the teachings, theology, and worship in Christianity are meaningless without the power of the Holy Spirit. The speaker also notes that Christianity is trans-intellectual and emphasizes the importance of speaking to people's spirits rather than their intellects when ministering to them. Finally, he shares an anecdote about how he dealt with a person who was resistant to the gospel due to their exposure to other religions and cults.
The speaker discusses the importance of spiritual power in Christianity, rather than just relying on intellect and doctrine. He shares a story about a woman who came to their church seeking answers and how through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, a demonic entity was revealed and she was transformed. The speaker emphasizes that Christianity is not just about intellect, but about spiritual energy and power. He also discusses the role of intellect in creating division and separation, and how it can be a barrier to intimacy with God.
The speaker talks about how the division caused by reason and intellect has separated man from nature, turned nature against itself, turned man against woman, and turned man against himself. He encourages the audience to humble their intellect and embrace the mysteries of God's word, even if they come in a less attractive or sophisticated package. He prays for the Holy Spirit to come into their minds and hearts, to submerge and baptize them, and to fill them with energy. He encourages them to make fools of themselves and humble themselves before God, and to expect great moves of God in their lives.
In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of keeping our spiritual energy levels high through regular prayer and seeking the Lord. He compares the Christian life to a car, where all the complex pieces and apparatus are useless without fuel, oil, and electrical charge - in the same way, all the teachings, theology, and worship in Christianity are meaningless without the power of the Holy Spirit. The speaker also notes that Christianity is trans-intellectual and emphasizes the importance of speaking to people's spirits rather than their intellects when ministering to them. Finally, he shares an anecdote about how he dealt with a person who was resistant to the gospel due to their exposure to other religions and cults.
The speaker discusses the importance of spiritual power in Christianity, rather than just relying on intellect and doctrine. He shares a story about a woman who came to their church seeking answers and how through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, a demonic entity was revealed and she was transformed. The speaker emphasizes that Christianity is not just about intellect, but about spiritual energy and power. He also discusses the role of intellect in creating division and separation, and how it can be a barrier to intimacy with God.
The speaker talks about how the division caused by reason and intellect has separated man from nature, turned nature against itself, turned man against woman, and turned man against himself. He encourages the audience to humble their intellect and embrace the mysteries of God's word, even if they come in a less attractive or sophisticated package. He prays for the Holy Spirit to come into their minds and hearts, to submerge and baptize them, and to fill them with energy. He encourages them to make fools of themselves and humble themselves before God, and to expect great moves of God in their lives.
Verse 20, chapter 1, First Corinthians, says: “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness –say foolishness with me, please-, through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews, the miraculous eyes, and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified. A stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles”.
Now go with me to chapter 2, because remember that when the Bible was written, it wasn’t written in chapters or verses, that’s just conveniences that were, you know, put together hundreds and hundreds of years after the Bible was written to make it easy for referencing and going to one place to another and so on. But in the apostle Paul’s mind there was just one thought that he was developing, you know, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, so I think chapter 2 is very much linked to what I just read.
Now go with me to chapter 2, because remember that when the Bible was written, it wasn’t written in chapters or verses, that’s just conveniences that were, you know, put together hundreds and hundreds of years after the Bible was written to make it easy for referencing and going to one place to another and so on. But in the apostle Paul’s mind there was just one thought that he was developing, you know, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, so I think chapter 2 is very much linked to what I just read.
