The Power of GOD is what persuades people to become believers, not our intellect!
Being led by The Holy Spirit will shape our thoughts and future actions. Pursuing other avenues without being led by The Holy Spirit is simply a waste of time and resources. Is it better to rely on your intellect or being led by The Holy Spirit? Paul came to the realization that his intellect was grossly subordinate to knowing and following Christ.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Philippians chapter 3:
3 For we have already experienced “heart-circumcision,” and we worship God in the power and freedom of the Holy Spirit, not in laws and religious duties. We are those who boast in what Jesus Christ has done, and not in what we can accomplish in our own strength.
All accolades belong to Jesus Christ!
4 It’s true that I once relied on all that I had become. I had a reason to boast and impress people with my accomplishments—more than others—for my pedigree was impeccable.
Paul admits his ego was inflated by all his accomplishments, yet he had been an enemy of Christ. His ego had put him on a path of being totally wrong. He shares how wrong he had been. His exceptional schooling did not move him to the Truth.
5 I was born a true Hebrew of the heritage of Israel as the son of a Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin. I was circumcised eight days after my birth and was raised in the strict tradition of Orthodox Judaism, living a separated and devout life as a Pharisee.
6 And concerning the righteousness of the Torah, no one surpassed me; I was without a peer. Furthermore, as a fiery defender of the truth, I persecuted the messianic believers with religious zeal.
Paul came to the realization:
7 Yet all of the accomplishments that I once took credit for, I’ve now forsaken them and I regard it all as nothing compared to the delight of experiencing Jesus Christ as my Lord!
The past without Christ being at the center is worthless!
8 To truly know Him meant letting go of everything from my past and throwing all my boasting on the garbage heap. It’s all like a pile of manure to me now, so that I may be enriched in the reality of knowing Jesus Christ and embrace him as Lord in all of His greatness.
The world would have us focus on past achievements and boast about them to impress others. All that does is infer superiority over others. Paul was humbled when he first encountered THE LORD. Being struck with blindness and falling to the ground will immediately change your mindset.
9 My passion is to be consumed with Him and not cling to my own “righteousness” based in keeping the written Law. My only “righteousness” will be His, based on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ—the very righteousness that comes from God.
10 And I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus and to experience the overflowing power of His resurrection working in me. I will be one with Him in His sufferings and become like Him in his death.
11 Only then will I be able to experience complete oneness with Him in His resurrection from the realm of death.
Are you consumed with Jesus yet?
12 I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into His abundance so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me to make me His own.
13 I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead.
14 I run straight for the Divine invitation of reaching the Heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.
15 So let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them.
16 And let us all advance together to reach this victory-prize, following one path with one passion.
As our mindset is renewed, our passion for Christ and our Heavenly purpose will consume us so that we will become fully mature in Christ. We will trust in HIS power to bring forth new believers, not our persuasive intellect.