Apostle Paul spoke of receiving an abundance of revelations.
"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the
abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the
messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure."
- 2 Corinthians 12:7 KJV
How did Paul receive this abundance of revelations?
"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with
excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For
I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him
crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but
in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand
in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet
not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to
nought: but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom,
which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes
of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the
Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them
that love him.
“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the
Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth
the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things
of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the
spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to
us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with
spiritual.
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit
of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because
they are spiritually discerned.
“But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself
is judged of no man.
“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may
instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." - 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 KJV
Another translation reads:
"When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I
didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan. For
I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus
Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness--timid and
trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using
clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.
I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
“Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words
of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the
rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the
mystery of God--his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for
our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have
not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious
Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no
ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who
love him."
“But it was to us that God revealed these things by his
Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets.
No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one
can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit.
“And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit),
so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you
these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we
speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain
spiritual truths.
“But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths
from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it,
for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.
“Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they
themselves cannot be evaluated by others.
“For, "Who can know the LORD's thoughts? Who knows
enough to teach him?" But we understand these things, for we have the mind
of Christ." - 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 NLT
How does one receive God’s Spirit?
By turning their heart, mind, and life to God, turning their
back to sin by repentance.
This is what Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost when God
first started pouring out His Spirit upon man.
"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their
heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren,
what shall we do?
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to
all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." -
Acts 2:37-39 KJV
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