The Revelation of the Holy Spirit and the Death of the Old Man

Holy Spirit revelation: What does the Spirit actually do?

(Biblical teaching based on 1 Corinthians 2:10, with practical application)

One of the deepest, yet most frequently misunderstood areas of Christian life is how God gives revelation to man. Many believers read the Scriptures, yet they understand the same verse in very different ways. In some, the Word comes alive; others stumble over it; and some see nothing in it at all. The reason for this is not a difference in intellect, but the operation of revelation.

1. The foundational verse: What does the Holy Spirit actually do?

Scripture says:

“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
(1 Corinthians 2:10, KJV)

This verse has caused confusion for many, because at first reading it may seem as if the Holy Spirit is “searching” God, as though He were investigating, seeking, or gathering information. However, this understanding does not align either with the spirit of Scripture or with the meaning of the original Greek text.

The problem lies not in the truth of Scripture, but in the potential ambiguity of translation.

The word translated as “searcheth” comes from the Greek ἐραυνᾷ (eraunā), which means:

• to penetrate
• to uncover
• to go to the depth of
• to fully know

This does not imply learning or searching due to lack of knowledge, but rather complete knowledge and disclosure.

The first part of the verse already settles the issue:

👉 “But God hath revealed them unto us…”

Therefore, the Spirit is not searching for His own understanding; rather, God reveals to us, and He does so by His Spirit.

The Holy Spirit knows the deep things of God and brings revelation from those depths to the spirit of the believer. He does not examine Himself; He reveals, communicates, and imparts.

That is why Paul continues:

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
(1 Corinthians 2:12, KJV)

The direction of revelation is always this:

The Father → the Holy Spirit → our spirit

2. Why do believers understand the same Scripture differently?

This is the key to revelation.

Not every believer understands the same Scripture in depth at the same time, because the Holy Spirit does not reveal the same thing to everyone simultaneously. This is not because He chooses favorites, but because God trains and leads His children personally.

This is why:

• one believer receives living revelation from a certain verse,
• another sees nothing in that same verse yet,
• while receiving edification through a different passage.

Thus the church is built, and the body grows:
not everyone sees the same thing at the same time, yet revelation is given to all.

That is why Paul says:

“For the Spirit searcheth all things…”

Meaning: He penetrates all things and imparts what the Father desires to reveal.

3. To whom does the Holy Spirit reveal the things of God?

Here we arrive at the decisive point.

Paul states clearly:

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him.”
(1 Corinthians 2:14, KJV)

👉 Revelation is not given to the old nature.
👉 Revelation comes to the new creation.

That is why a believer often hears two voices within:

• one rejoices in the Word,
• the other doubts, accuses, and pulls back.

This is not schizophrenia; it is the presence of two natures.

4. The old man does not accept revelation

Jesus said:

“A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country…”
(Mark 6:4, KJV)

Nazareth could not accept Jesus because they saw His past, not divine revelation.

The same thing happens within a person:

• the old nature knows the past,
• knows the failures,
• knows family histories,
• and judges accordingly.

Therefore, a man cannot be a prophet before his old nature.

The old man does not repent; he is crucified:

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him…” (Romans 6:6, KJV)
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Galatians 5:24, KJV)
“I am crucified with Christ…” (Galatians 2:20, KJV)

The old man cannot be taught.
Revelation is not for him.
The pearls of Scripture are not meant for him.

5. Now let us look at this in practice

Healing – 1 Peter 2:24

“…by whose stripes ye were healed.”

You may have declared this in faith.
One day passes. Two. Three.
And nothing changes.

Then the inner accusation begins:

• “You? Healed?”
• “Everyone in your family died of this.”
• “This is not your inheritance.”

This is not the voice of the Holy Spirit.
This is the old nature speaking.

The Holy Spirit reveals; He does not accuse.
Accusation always comes from the old man.

Financial situations

You pray for work, provision, and care.
But inside you hear:

• “You’ve never succeeded.”
• “Your family has always been poor.”
• “God blesses others, not you.”

This is the inner “Nazareth.”
The past speaking against revelation.

6. The key realization

👉 Your faith is not too small.
👉 God is not unwilling to give.
👉 You are listening to the voice of the old nature.

The Holy Spirit has already revealed.
The new man understands.
The old man resists.

CONCLUDING THOUGHT

The Holy Spirit does not examine God; He reveals the heart of God to the spirit of the believer. Revelation always comes to the new creation. The old man cannot receive it; therefore, he does not need to be debated with, taught, or persuaded. He has been crucified.

When a person understands this, they are set free to be led not by accusation, but by revelation.

SCRIPTURE FOR CLOSING

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
(2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV)