Inspired to write
The approach of many believers to Scripture is inconsistent with the Spirit who inspired those sacred writings. Much of what we have a heart to accomplish cannot be done without reexamining our relationship with God through His Word. We have gone as far as we can go with what we presently know. Not only are we in need of the Spirit of God to teach us, but we are also in need of a different view of the Bible. The God who speaks through circumstances and unusual coincidences wants to talk to us again through the pages of His Word, even when it appears to be taken out of context or is not exactly in line with what appears to be the author's original intent. The Word of God is living and active. It contains divine energy, always moving and accomplishing His purposes. It is the surgeon's knife that cuts in order to heal. It is balm that brings comfort and healing. But the point to stress is that it is multidimensional and unfolding in nature. For example, when Isaiah spoke a word, it applied to the people he spoke to, yet because it is alive, much of what he said then has its ultimate fulfillment in another day and time. Living words do that. God said we were to choose whom we would serve, yet Jesus said He chose us; we didn't choose Him. We are predestined from before the foundation of the world, yet are told that whosoever will, may come. Jesus said we had to sell all to follow Him, yet He instructs the wealthy to be rich in good works. The Holy Spirit knows what truth to breath on according to the particular season of our life. Truth is multidimensional. Some truths are superior to others. Lesser truths are often the foundation of greater truths.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:15
Friendship with God is built on the foundation of first being a servant. Truth is progressive in nature, line upon line, precept on precept. For example, the primary message of the Old Testament is to reveal the power of sin. For that reason, when a person touched a leper, they became unclean. Sin is overpowering. Flee from it! The primary message of the New Testament is the power of God's love. So, when Jesus touched a leper, the leper became clean.
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8
Both messages are true. One is greater. Revelation that doesn't lead to a divine encounter will only make us more religious, teaching us to embrace external standards without the internal realities. God is not opposed to the mind; He created the mind to be a compliment to all that He had made. He is opposed to the unrenewed mind. It is at war with God, being incapable of obeying Him.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:7-8.
The believer who governs his Christian life through the mind is the carnal Christian that the apostle Paul warned about. The soul can only lead us into religion, form without power. It is what makes way for Ishmaels instead of Isaacs. It's important to understand the learning process. Our spirit is where the Holy Spirit dwells. Our spirit man is alive and well and is ready to receive great things from God. When we filter everything through my mind and remove what isn't immediately logical, we extract much of what we really need. Only what goes beyond my understanding is positioned to renew my mind.
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
If we can learn more about the actual voice and presence of the Lord, we will stop being so paranoid about being deceived by the things we can't explain. Usually those who use the natural mind to protect themselves from deception are the most deceived. They've relied on their own logic and reason to keep them safe, which is in itself a deception. They usually have an explanation for all that's going on in their walk with the Lord but criticize those who long for more. Our hearts can embrace things that our heads can't. Our hearts will lead us where our logic would never dare to go. No one ever attributes the traits of courage and valor to the intellect or the strength of human reasoning. Courage rises up from within and gives influence over the mind. In the same way, true faith affects the mind. Faith does not come from our understanding. It comes from the heart. We do not believe because we understand; we understand because we believe
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
We'll know when our mind is truly renewed, because the impossible will look logical. The Holy Spirit lives in our spirit. That is the place of communion with God. As we learn to receive from our spirits, we learn how to be Spirit led.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:3
Faith is the foundation for all true intellectualisms. When we learn to learn that way, we open ourselves up to grow in true faith because faith does not require understanding to function. I'm sure that most of you have had this experience, you've been reading the Bible, and a verse jumps out at you. There is great excitement over this verse that seems to give so much life and encouragement to you. Yet initially you couldn't teach or explain that verse if your life depended on it. What happened is this: Your spirit received the life-giving power of the word from the Holy Spirit. When we learn to receive from our spirit, our mind becomes the student and is therefore subject to the Holy Spirit. Through the process of revelation and experience our mind eventually obtains understanding. That is biblical learning, the spirit giving influence on the mind. Knowledge in this context is experiential knowledge. It is more than mere concepts or theories. The word knowledge here comes from the word used in Genesis describing the experience of intimacy.
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the LORD.” Genesis 4:1
It is foolish to think, because we have the Bible, the full revelation of God has already been given. We don't need anymore. First of all, while the Bible is complete, it is a closed book without the help of the Holy Spirit. We must have revelation to see what is already written. Secondly, we know so little of what God wants us to understand from His Word. Jesus said as much. He couldn't teach His disciples all that was in His heart
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. John 16:12
This is the knowledge that comes from the Spirit of God as He breathes upon the pages of Scripture. It leads to divine encounters; truth experienced is never forgotten.
