THIS IS NOT UNDERSTOOD BY ANY ONE EXCEPT HE WHO HAS THE HOLY GHOST.

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.
(1 Cor. 2:9-10)

Many today apply this to eternity, to the other world; they think we never know these things until we get into another world. I am glad the scripture explains itself. "Eye hath not seen," in the natural state. God hath—in the present—revealed unto us by His Spirit. How? By His Spirit in this world. "The Spirit searcheth all things; yea, the deep things of God."

I desire to call your attention, especially, to verse 14 [of 1 Corinthians 2]. "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."

The natural man cannot understand this wonderful scripture.

There are two classes of men: the spiritual man and the natural man. The natural man is in the "gall of bitterness"; the spiritual man is born of God and walks in the Spirit; he gets out into the deep.

The Deep Things of God
The natural man can never discern spiritual things and never hear and understand the work of the Lord; these things pass all human understanding. The wisdom of this world, intellect and science, can never understand the spiritual things of God.

There are two kinds of wisdom; the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. The wisdom from above, the natural man cannot comprehend; it never enters his imagination to think of the things God hath prepared for those who love Him.

He hath prepared already, and He hath revealed them to us by His Spirit. His Spirit lets us down into the deep things, even the deep things of God. This is what we preach, what we practice, and what we stand on. The work of the Spirit is foolishness to the natural man; but he that hath the Spirit can discern spiritual things.

Various Kinds of Spirits
There are many kinds of power, and many spirits going out in the world today; and we are told to try the spirits; they are many. Everything is revealed by God through the blessed Holy Ghost.

There is only one Spirit we want anything to do with; not our own spirit, nor any other spirit, but the Spirit of the living God; and He will lead us into all truth, all the way; will lead us where we can get the truth. The child of God will be led into the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire; the Pentecostal Baptism.

Then we can go from one deep thing to another. The Holy Ghost is sent to us by Jesus Christ, and all gifts come through the Holy Ghost. Jesus said He shall not speak of Himself, but of Me; He will speak to you and show you the things to come. We believe it. Glory to God!

This is the Holy Ghost who came at Pentecost, and turned Jerusalem upside down; and Jesus said that when the Holy Ghost came, He should abide with us forever, even unto the end. The work of the Spirit is foolishness to the natural man; he cannot comprehend it.

Unless you will hear the voice of God, the voice of the natural man will make you attribute what you see, to excitement, or to some other power. When the Holy Ghost is poured out there are always two classes—one is convinced and convicted, and accepts it; the other says, if I accept, I will have to lead a different life, and be a gazing stock for the world.

They are not willing to pay the price, so they begin to draw back. First they wonder at the strange acts, then when they won't accept, they begin to despise. Every one who continues to despise the works of the Holy Ghost will perish.

Satanic Power
There are many powers in the world that are not of God, but are counterfeit; but where there is a counterfeit there is always a genuine. No one ever tries to counterfeit anything that is not genuine; that is a sure evidence that it is genuine.

The devil shows his power in a good many ways to deceive people. He tries to substitute some other power for the power of God. It was so in the time of Moses and the time of the prophets. God's power was especially in the world at certain times, and then magicians would come up with power and show something that seemed similar. One was God; the other was the devil.

Moses went to Egypt to lead the people out. Before Pharaoh, he threw down his rod and it became a live serpent. The magicians said they had the same power, so they threw their rids down, and they became serpents. One was of God, and the other was of the devil.

Moses did not get scared and run away; he knew God and wouldn't have run if all the serpents in Egypt had come before him.

He stood his ground, and I admire him for it; I do not like a coward. What was the result? Moses' serpent swallowed the other up, head and tail! There was nothing left of them. Those who are trying to overthrow the power of God and substitute something else will have a day of judgement. The time is coming when the Almighty God will manifest His power, then they, too, will be swallowed up.

The Lamb of God left the realms of glory, and came down here to be foot sore, dusty, weary, spit upon; He said," I am come to do thy will, Oh God."

If He had not borne all these things; if He had not gone all the way to the cross, the Holy Ghost never could have come. If He had been left in the tomb, the Holy Ghost never could have come. As soon as He arose from the dead, and ascended into heaven, the Holy Ghost could come.

God gave His Son the highest place before all the host of heaven; then He sent the Holy Ghost to dwell in these bodies, His temple. The Holy Ghost is a great power; by His work He reveals the deep things of God to us.

Source: Holy Ghost Sermons by Maria Woodworth-Etter
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers

From the Publisher: "Holy Ghost Sermons" by Mrs. M.B. Woodworth-Etter was first published in September of 1918. Harrison House is pleased to offer it as a Living Classic Edition. The text is reprinted almost exactly as it appeared in the original edition which Mr. Etter compiled and organized herself.

Readers will best understand Mrs. Etter's message by noting her relationship with God and the time frame in which she ministered. Signs and wonders powerfully earmarked her ministry. And her message is timeless, though some of her language is dated. So please bear in mind that Mrs. Etter spoke and acted upon the revelation she possessed in her day. Her interpretations of Bible prophecy in light of World War I and the evolving technology of her day are most interesting.

We therefore recommend that CFAITH excerpts of "Holy Ghost Sermons" be read in light of present-day revelation from God's Word. The Spirit of the Lord is continually opening the eyes of our understanding to know His mind and ways.