Daily Bible Plan - 1. Corinthians

26. July 2025

Devotion by Reverend Joseph Antwi

Theme: Living your Faith in the Public Sphere

Fortified City Church & Love City Church, Basel

Preaching with Power, Living by the Spirit

🔊 Hey guys!

I’m super excited to bring you another edition of Paul’s Letters—and today we’re diving into Chapter 2 of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.

Before we go in:

📖 Open your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 2:1–16

👀 Read through it softly

🖊 Highlight any verses that speak to your spirit

💬 Share in the comments—I love seeing and hearing your thoughts!

We’re continuing our series, “Living Your Faith in the Public Sphere,” and we’ll climax this Thursday with our prophetic night: “Supernatural Alignment.” 🔥

As we step into a new month with one day of fasting and prayer, don’t be left out!

🧱 Paul’s Foundation: Christ Crucified

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

— 1 Corinthians 2:1–2

Paul didn’t come to impress with fancy language or philosophical brilliance. His message was raw, simple, and powerful: Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

“My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

— vv.4–5

This is what separates worldly speech from kingdom preaching: Power.

Not persuasion. Not presentation. Demonstration.

💬 My Personal Journey with This

In the early days of my ministry, I sometimes believed I needed to preach like someone else to be impactful. But God taught me: You are most powerful when you are most authentic.

In 2020, during the COVID lockdown, I obeyed the Spirit and took to the streets of Dättwil in Canton Aargau. No microphones. No fancy invitations. Just the gospel—and the power of God.

People came out. Some listened. Some joined in prayer. Some gave their lives to Christ. But one moment was unforgettable:

A woman, instantly healed in her shoulder, suddenly screamed, “Black magic!” She was so shocked by her healing that she couldn’t comprehend what had happened. What she didn’t know was this: She had just encountered the raw power of God.

That wasn’t persuasive talk. It was a Spirit demonstration.

📚 God’s Wisdom vs. Human Wisdom

“However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age…”

— v.6

God’s wisdom is hidden, eternal, and Spirit-revealed. It’s not popular, and it’s not taught in political debates or philosophy classes.

“If the rulers of this age had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

— v.8

If they had truly understood who Jesus was, they wouldn’t have dared to touch Him.

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard… the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.”

— vv.9–10

🕊 The Role of the Holy Spirit

“No one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” — v.11

This is why we don’t just read the Bible—we ask the Holy Spirit to interpret it. He shows us what has been freely given to us by God.

Even now, as you go through this devotion, say:

👉 “Holy Spirit, open my eyes. Reveal truth to me.”

⚠ Natural Thinking vs. Spiritual Discernment

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him…”

— v.14

This is why so many people challenge or mock the things of God. For example:

• “If God created sex, why can’t we enjoy it outside marriage?”

• “If science says masturbation is healthy, why does the Bible speak against it?”

These are natural arguments that miss spiritual consequences.

Let me put it this way:

If someone sleeps with another person casually, the physical risk is contracting an STD like HIV. The doctor may run tests, give treatment, and manage it with medication.

But here’s the part science cannot touch:

There is also a spiritual consequence. You may pick up a spiritual disease, open the door to demonic oppression, or create ungodly soul ties.

Only the Holy Spirit can diagnose that. And only Jesus can deliver you.

Just like a physician handles physical infections, the Holy Spirit handles spiritual infections—and this is something human wisdom cannot detect or treat.

👁 He Who is Spiritual Judges All Things

“But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.” — v.15

A spiritual person sees beyond the physical.

They discern atmospheres, motives, and moments.

They’re not easily understood by natural people, because their source is the Spirit.

🧠 You Have the Mind of Christ

“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.” — v.16

This is your portion as a child of God:

• You can discern like Jesus.

• Think like Jesus.

• Speak truth like Jesus.

• Walk with clarity in a confused world.

Through the Holy Spirit, you carry the mind of Christ.

🙏 Prayer:

Holy Spirit, thank You for revealing the deep things of God.

We don’t want to live by human wisdom or persuasive talk.

We want to walk in the power of God and live with the mind of Christ.

Help us discern spiritual realities and confront sin not just intellectually, but spiritually.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

📌 Reflection Questions:

1. What verse from 1 Corinthians 2 hit you the most today?

2. Are there areas where you’re judging spiritual things with natural eyes?

3. How can you allow the Holy Spirit to lead your decisions this week?

With love,

Reverend Joseph Antwi

Fortified City Church | Love City Church Basel | Global Prayer Hub