“The Spirit From God For Understanding…!”

“The Spirit From God For Understanding…!”(I Cor. 2:12-16).
Nongqawuse was a Xhosa girl who claimed to be a gospel prophetess back in the days of early missionary activity in South Africa. By the time she started her prophecies she had not had any direct contact with the missionaries. The little she knew about missionary activities was through her uncle who was once a cook to some missionaries at a distant town. She heard some confusing messages concering the resurrection. Her prophecies led to the Xhosa cattle-killing that brought famine (1856-1857), in now Eastern Cape, South Africa. She prophesied that when the people kill their cattle, the cattle shall arise in abundance.
If you know the value of cattle to the Xhosas, then you can understand how Nongqawuse misled the people to bring famine upon themselves!
Nongqawuse claimed she received messages from the Holy Spirit.
Fast-forward to 1986, a young woman in northern Uganda by name Alice Auma proclaimed herself under the orders of a christian spirit named Lakwena. She raise an army called the “Holy Spirit Mobile Forces.” She wrecked havoc on the National Resistance Army of the government. She eventually fled to Kenya when the tides turned against her. Fragments of her forces included the “Lord’s Resistance Army.”
The stories of two individuals whose claim of a God’s Spirit led to the deaths of both cattle and man!
We use these African stories to enable us judge between “the spirit of the world” and “the Spirit who is from God.”
Paul speaks to the Corinthians as if he is speaking to us that, “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us…”
When believers speak it should not be words taught by human wisdom. We do not speak in words “taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned…”
My friend, this life has two extremes. In the same way there are two opposing wisdom. Wisdon from the Spirit of God and the wisdom of the world.
Paul says, “to those whom God has called…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God…” And that in Christ Jesus, who has become for us the wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption”(I Cor.1:24&30).
May the same Holy Spirit inspire us, teaching us to express spiritual truths with spiritual words.
Do not go after confusing spirits that lead others to destruction. Rather, receive the Spirit who is from God, that you may understand what God has freely given you” – that salvation is found in Christ Jesus alone and that the Holy Spirit alone reveals this truth!
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit enable me to express spiritual truths with spiritual words. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.