“Unaware,” “Ignorant,” “Uninformed.”

Good morning, dear family of God. As you awaken physically, let’s determine to awaken spiritually. The first thing each day is to become aware of life. God has left us here one more day. And this is the day the Lord has appointed, so we determine to rejoice and be glad in it (Psalms 118:24). Why?

Today is another opportunity to press in to discover “more of His fullness.” Tomorrow we may just be drawn into His blessed presence for eternity – when faith become sight – and be behold His glory face to-face. Today we can learn more about walking in the Spirit. Do you know how to do this?

Paul makes a great case for us to make it our aim to move forward in walking in the Spirit. Here is how he introduces his three chapters on the gifts of the Spirit:

1 Corinthians 12:1-8. 12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. 3Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

Different translations expand on the Apostles concern for the Corinthian Christians. The subject is “spiritualities.” The word “gifts” is implied and supplied my most translations. But Paul did not start with the work charisma, meaning gifts of grace, but with pneumatikos, referring to the realm of spirituality, of which spiritual gifts are certainly an evident part.

Paul did not want his readers to be “unaware,” or “ignorant,” or “uninformed.” On another subject, the apostle made this clarification: 1b . . . Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him (1 Corinthians 8:1b-3 NKJV).

There is a natural realm and a spiritual realm. The natural realm is visible to our physical eyes. The spiritual realm is “visible” by a regenerate heart. The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit, for Spiritual discernment is not available to a resisting, rejecting heart. (1 Corinthians 2:14).

So what is the heart of the matter? To overcome our unawareness, ignorance, and lack of information about the “spiritualities,” Paul writes to the Corinthians in his second letter this instruction: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV).

Seen = temporal, transient realm -- a misunderstood sense of reality as if it were sufficient. Unseen = invisible, spiritual realm -- the greater reality embraced by faith in God’s Word.

As for now, as for today, we walk on this side of heaven by faith. We are growing in our ability to grasp spiritual reality as we discover glimpses of God’s glory. It comes as the Spirit reveals Him to our hearts through the Word of God. I often say, “The Bible is God’s self-disclosure. The Spirit Who inspired the Word, dwells in your heart right now, dear Christian.”

Was this false reality evident among some of the Corinthians? Apparently, yes. Look at what Paul clarifies in 12:2-3 above. They were coming out of paganism but were unaware that they had been led astray by former idolatrous deceptions. Now it was time to throw off those false doctrines of devils and become more fully informed about the whole realm of “spiritualities.” Only by fully yielding to the Holy Spirit within, could the Corinthians come to fuller maturity in the invisible, but real, realm of the spirit. Spiritual gifts are always to be seen in light of the One who gave those gifts. Let’s be open to fresh instruction from the Holy Spirit about “spiritualities.” Let’s no longer be “unaware,” “ignorant,” or “uninformed.”