How to Have Extraordinary Living

God's Hidden Wisdom for Our Glory

Among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written,

What no eye has seen or ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.

These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything even the depths of God. 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. (1 Corinthians 2:6-13)

Keeping with the same theme that the Apostle Paul presented, he tells us of the reality and ability to live gloriously, to live in glorious wisdom. The idea is significant: God gives us an advantage in life. Wouldn't you want to go through life not just surviving, but with an advantage others don't have?

This advantage relates to living meaningfully. The Greek term for wisdom means having an edge or understanding to function properly in life, especially from knowing the depths of God—things freely given, things the rulers of this age couldn't understand. This leads to functioning meaningfully, a higher quality of life for the glory of God and your good.

Notice verse 7: we impart a secret and hidden wisdom from God decreed before the ages for our glory. Not just His glory, but yours. Last week we saw wisdom from people—interpretations of how to live. Everyone picks up wisdom on living with enjoyment, comfort, satisfaction, and ease. Why not receive the depths of God for your glory?

Jesus Christ: The Wisdom Imparted

This wisdom relates to what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:30—Jesus is your wisdom. Specifically, knowing nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. In terms of gospel ignorance, it's everything from Jesus dying to save us from sins, enabling us to live for Him and the life He lived.

Receiving wisdom for your glory means all contained in the gospel message: living as God intended. Your glory is the reputation of a specific kind of life that causes people to investigate why you're experiencing life differently. Glory means an extraordinary kind of life.

Paul says Christians can live extraordinarily, out of the ordinary, so different that people question why. It seems like you have an edge, an advantage.

Consider 1 Thessalonians 4: when a Christian dies, believers grieve with hope of seeing them again—extraordinarily different from the world's hopeless grief. Or marriage: your experience can be fundamentally extraordinary compared to outside the faith. Even mundane routines—waking up, brushing teeth, daily life—can have transcendent meaning through relationship with God, with joy and contentment.

The Corinthians argued over camps—Paul, Apollos, Cephas—having a godless, gospelless experience. Paul reminds them of the depths of God they're missing, where Jesus is more famous than them, bringing harmony with Scripture and a higher quality experience far from the mundane.

Maturity: The Key to Receiving Wisdom

Verse 6 bookends with "among the mature we impart wisdom." Verse 13: "interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual." In Hebrews 5, after decades as Christians, they were immature, unable to plumb depths like Melchizedek's relation to Christ. They had become dull of hearing—lazy in growth.

By this time, you ought to be teachers. They wasted time on distractions from gospel growth. What in your life causes you to miss maturity to receive this wisdom for extraordinary living?

It requires constant participation in the gospel of Jesus Christ, how it plays out in our lives. Incorporate James 1: count it joy in trials, for testing produces maturity (teleios, same Greek word). Join suffering with more gospel, more Christ, intense study drawing Jesus from Scripture.

Jesus appears in Scripture with signs confirming His nature as God and Messiah. Scriptures were penned, preserved for us, as He prepared a place. Determine to know nothing except Jesus and Him crucified, applying gospel daily for growth and advantage.

This wisdom predates the ages—not gained by time or rulers who are perishing. Their wisdom fails; God's grants salvation, eternal, spiritual, higher quality life. God predestined (proorizo) this mystery hidden in Him. None of the rulers understood, or they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory.

What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him. (Isaiah 64:4)

Centerpiece: love for God. Does hearing God presented from Scripture move you? If you claim love but have no desire for time with Him, it's untrue—like claiming love for a spouse but avoiding them.

God prepared the gospel for those who love Him. He loved us first, causing us to love Him. If youth group or gathering lacks gospel preaching, no reason to come. Crave God; that's the motivation. Treating people of God poorly shows lack of affection for Him (Hebrews 6).

We all come from depravity, slavery to sin. No one better; all need grace. Even as pastor, I need it as much as anyone. God reveals through the Spirit who searches the depths of God—no one else comprehends them.

But we received the Spirit from God to understand things freely given. The Spirit reveals truths, but in context: knowing nothing except Christ crucified. Only in the gospel does the Spirit teach depths of God.

The Depths of God Through the Gospel

For problems—rumors, broken friendships, family issues—draw from the storehouse of God's depths via the gospel. Sin is the problem; Jesus the solution. Without sin, no negative experiences, even as Jesus endured crucifixion with joy (Hebrews 12).

No sin, you'd experience adversity as Jesus did—with God's will and Christ's joy. Go through trials stronger, more in love with Christ. Corinth missed this; we must not.

The Holy Spirit searches everything, knows everything—thoroughly available in the gospel. He doesn't concern Himself outside it. Focus on gospel for extraordinary wisdom and advantage.

Recognize ability to go through life extraordinarily with gospel. Like apostles in storm: with Christ, the God of the storm, it's okay. Root problem is sin—hindering marriage joy, dating, family. Presin, paradise bliss; sin changes good experiences negatively.

In Christ, deal with sin through faith, repentance, following His example. With sin under control, gospel reigning, experience extraordinary wisdom, advantage, life. What holds you back? Sin. Deal with it; quality improves. ```