For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
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. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:11-16
I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in Him. 1 John 2:26-28
How do you discern things? Who is your immediate ‘go to’ when not knowing which way to turn or decide? Do you fall back on previous life experience? Do you rehearse past lessons, trying to get them to fit the current situation you are encountering? Are your learned ‘life filters’ and prejudices clouding your decisions and making you pre-judge and categorize individuals and situations in snap decisions? Why do new parents repeat their own parent’s mistakes? How much of your life is lived without consulting or asking the Holy Spirit?
If you are truly a ‘new creation’ then you must be living by ‘new ways’ and new standards driven and taught to you by the indwelling Spirit of God. This is the real fight within us – between the natural way and the spiritual way. How much do you actually yield to Him and converse with the Holy Spirit throughout your day about all the decisions you need to make? Do you bring ALL your concerns to Him? Do you filter all your thoughts through Him? Do you hear His explanations to you? Is He really teaching you? How? Does He still have to rely on ‘outside’ voices to teach you, because you haven’t learned to hear Him within you … yet? Or because you are dismissing Him and His voice within you, and saying to Him – “That isn’t from God. He would never tell me that!” Can you discern Him clearly within your mind? If not, why not? This is the first step of the spiritual life … learning to hear His voice within you. Then it’s about engaging with Him throughout your day about everything. Then it’s about obedience to what He is asking you to do. Then it’s about carrying out His wishes THROUGH you. Where are you in that process?
Do you seek Him out for explanation on the scriptures or what is being taught behind the ‘pulpit’ you are listening to? Do you ask the Holy Spirit to show you what to accept and what to discard from all the various human ‘teachers’ in your life? Or do you just accept anything that someone with a ‘seminary degree’ tells you? Or anyone who preaches something from the pulpit in your ‘favorite’ “Church”? Do you even ask the Holy Spirit on any of these things? Do you really have the ‘mind of Christ’? Do you have any personal proof of that happening?
For many …the fear within them hinders them from submitting to the Holy Spirit.
What do you really want? Who do you really want guiding your life? Someone else? Only yourself? Or the Spirit of God? What evidence in your life really shows your answer? First steps? Be honest with yourself and then be honest with God.