Let’s look at a few Scriptures that should help us move into more of God.
II Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Temporal things are the things of this world in the realm of time. They are temporary. They have an end. The things that are not seen are the things of God. So we must become aware of that which is unseen. That means our spirit has to come alive to the Lord.
The things that are seen are temporary. The things that are not seen are eternal. God is eternal! And everything He does has the quality of being eternal. Everything He says is eternal. What is Paul really saying here about the Lord? What you see with your natural mind is temporary. That will pass away. God is in the realm of the not-seen. So what you receive from the Scriptures that is not seen with the natural mind is what God is revealing.
II Corinthians 3:6 Who also has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.
The majority of all Christians only view the Scriptures according to their natural understanding. They want everything to take place in the natural realm. Was Jonah really swallowed by a whale? Was the world created in six literal days? Did the serpent in the Garden of Eden really speak? Was it really a serpent? They want everything to be factual in the natural realm. But God isn’t interested in everything lining up with our natural understanding. My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9. He doesn’t think like we do; He doesn’t have a carnal mind like ours. God is Spirit! (John 4:24). And if we are going to learn how to think like He does, then we have to come alive to the Spirit realm. We will have to see things in the Scriptures that the natural man cannot see.
I heard someone say, “The Scriptures are quite simple. They are not hard to understand. When it says, ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ then you just don’t kill. That’s all there is to it. How hard can that be?” He was looking at it in the natural and applying it to the natural realm. If that was all that was meant, Jesus wouldn’t have to say, Who hath ears to hear, let him hear (Matthew 13:9). By saying that Jesus is telling us that something is being communicated that the natural man can’t understand. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear. Not natural ears, but if you have the capacity to hear what God is saying in the Scriptures, then hear.
If you had walked with the Lord for three and a half years like His disciples had, do you feel that you would have a good grasp of the Word? After all, that would be better than any Bible college or seminary you could go to today.
Luke 24:44 And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.
Everything concerning Christ in the Old Testament has to be fulfilled. He didn’t say it was; He said it has to be. In a sense, He is saying, “The Old Testament is talking about Me. Can you find Me in there?” What do Christians normally do? They look at the Old Testament and learn about the nation of Israel. The religious world majors on Israel, “Israel is God’s chosen people.” They wrap all the prophecies around Israel. Even our government gives Israel special consideration. It’s the Judeo-Christian thing. It’s the Holy Land! Well, Abraham didn’t believe it was the Holy Land. He wouldn’t even build a house there. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11:9-10.
Luke 24:45 Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures.
After following Jesus for three and a half years, He still had to open their understanding! That tells us something. If you can read the Scriptures and understand them with the natural reasoning of your mind, then Jesus doesn’t need to open your understanding. If you can do it on your own, you don’t need Him to do it. But, obviously, we do need Him to open our understanding. Why? Because the natural mind does not have the capacity to understand the things of God.
I Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.
Your natural eye hasn’t seen the things of God. Your natural ear hasn’t heard them. Many times I’ve heard that verse quoted and explained as, “Oh, it’s impossible to ever understand the things of God.” But look at the next verse.
I Corinthians 2:10-11 But God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the
Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in
him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God.
The things of God cannot be understood by man. Man cannot know them. They have to be revealed by the Spirit. The Lord needs to open your understanding before you can understand the Scriptures.
I Corinthians 2:12 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.
You can’t know the things God has for you without receiving the Holy Spirit. You could say, “Oh, but I’m a Christian!” That doesn’t mean you have received the Holy Spirit. You could also say, “Well, I received the Holy Spirit and I speak in tongues.” That doesn’t necessarily mean that you can understand the things of God, either. Most of the people who have received the Spirit and speak in tongues can’t do anymore than that. They still don’t know how to be led and taught by the Spirit. The next step after receiving the Holy Spirit is learning how to hear His voice. You don’t automatically know how to follow the leading of the Spirit after receiving Him. And He will help you to learn if you’re willing. Most people are satisfied to just speak in tongues. That is all they want.
I Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
The Holy Spirit is the Teacher. He is the Spirit of truth that will guide you into all truth. When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. John 16:13.
I Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him…
That is so plain! The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God!
I Corinthians 2:14 … neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The Scriptures have to be discerned spiritually. That is simply stated. How hard can that be? Well, it’s hard enough that the Lord has to open your understanding. You have to receive the Holy Spirit and learn how to discern the things of God. That is the only way it happens.
I Corinthians 2:15-16 But he that is spiritual
judges all things, yet he
himself is judged of no man.
16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we
have the mind of Christ.
“Oh, I’m a Christian. I must have the mind of Christ.” No! The only ones that have the mind of Christ are those who have the mind of Christ. And being a Christian doesn’t mean that you have. You have to learn the mind of Christ.
We need this! We need to understand! How many of us have cried out to the Lord, “Lord, open my understanding that I may understand the Scriptures, teach me by Your Spirit”?
Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto
your
own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
Lean not upon your own understanding! This is a common thread all the way through the Bible. What evil is He talking about when He says, “Depart from evil”? It’s the evil of leaning upon your own understanding.
Now, everything we’ve discussed so far is laying a foundation for what is next. We'll discuss that tomorrow.
Copyright © 2000 by Henry DuBose