Gaining Spiritual Understanding

"Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." - Luke 24:45-49

One of our biggest challenges is to not try to figure spiritual truth out with our natural wisdom. 

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says 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

Do you see the implication from that verse. It is not possible to understand spiritual truth with our mortal minds. Like trying to explain some complex mathematical theorem to a 3-year-old. They may hear the words but don't have a clue about what they mean.

"These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." - 1 Corinthians 2:13-14

Do you see the implication here when trying to explain spiritual truth to a lost person. They do not have the capacity to understand apart from revelation from the Spirit of God. Their first revelation being the day that they are born again.

"Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." - John 3:3-6

Do you see the implication here of ever having a hope of understanding God's Truth? We need help to do that. And God made a provision through His Spirit and the Word of God.

"I [Jesus] will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." - John 14:16-17

And when does the Spirit of God come to abide with us?

"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance." - Ephesians 1:13-14

The Spirit of God is in every Christian. We cannot live the life we have been called to without Him in us.

"Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Knowing all of this, it is important to remember that we always have the option of ignoring the spiritual and embracing the natural.  It is so easy - after all it comes naturally to us. Like the old Bick Owens song, "All You Got To Do Is Act Naturally". That is why we are given this admonition.

"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. [ignore the Word of God] Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." - 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone