To have the conquering power that saints in the scriptures had, we must apply the spiritual things of the word to our lives.

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Having known the fullness of what God has provided on the cross at Calvary, our response is important. He provided salvation, riches and heaven for us. He has prepared what the Old Testament people could not see or hear. He prepared something great for everyone that loves Him. Without the spirit of God, we cannot have the realisation of what God has provided for His own.

The natural man intends to go to the heavenly city. But he is blind and cannot see the way. He wants to be His own saviour and get there through the works of His hands. Being a natural man, he cannot understand the things of God; “for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

He does not understand the way of the spirit, salvation, the spiritual operation of God that takes away the carnal nature in man, the spirit’s gift of speaking in new tongues and healing, because he operates in the natural. His argument against the word of God, way of salvation, holiness and power of the Holy Ghost puts him in “enmity against God: for (he) is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed, can be.”

“But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.” Mature believers are perfect and discerning in all things because they are spiritual and the Spirit of God who inspired the Scriptures abides in and enlightens them regarding the interpretation and application of the Word.

The carnal mind cannot understand us because we are spiritual and we live by the Spirit and the Scriptures. Thus, mature believers make progress in all areas of life and the secret of their lives is that they are led by the Spirit of God at all times. They are therefore, blessed for God has given them a new mind.

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” Many people try to correct the Almighty. Even when He shows them the way to live and behave, they argue with Him. They redefine sanctification, holiness and the way of the Lord.

But as believers, since God is perfect and is the only One who can grant our desires, whatever He instructs us to do to make progress, we must obey. Because we are saved, we will not be rigid or stubborn. Rather, we will submit to the will of the Lord in order to have the victory.

If we claim to have salvation, we will have the mind, love, gentleness, meekness, lowliness, humility, surrendered-ness and submission of Christ. As Kingdom citizens, when we have the mind, “which was also in Christ Jesus,” that is when we qualify for His inexhaustible and unsearchable riches.

• Further reading (King James Version): 1 Corinthians 2:9-16. 1 Corinthians 2:9,10; Isaiah 64:4. Matthew 13:16,17,35; 1 Peter 1:10-12; 1 Corinthians 2:9. Ephesians 3:8,9; 2 Peter 1:3,4; 2 Corinthians 3:18. 1 Corinthians 2:9,10; 2 Corinthians 12:2-4; Hebrews 11:16; John 14:2-4; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Deuteronomy 7:9,10; Matthew 25:34,41. 1 Corinthians 2:11-13.1 Corinthians 2:11; John 14:26; 16:13.1 Corinthians 2:12; Galatians 2:20. 1 Corinthians 2:13; 10:3-6; Romans 15:4. 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:5-8. 1 Corinthians 2:15.