As we continue to pour ourselves into the Word, let us not forget to continue, “by prayer and petition present our requests” that the God who promised to write his laws in our minds as head knowledge and our hearts as experiential knowledge would do just that. “He who promised is faithful and He will do it” by the power of His Spirit. By this, we would gain all the help we need in understanding the Bible.
Hebrews 10:16
16 “This is the covenant which I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put My laws upon their hearts, and write them on their mind,”
John 6:45
45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.
It is the Father who is the revealer of profound and hidden things. It is He who gives wisdom and knowledge and reveals an abundance of peace and truth.
Daniel 2:21-23; 29
21 It is He who changes the times and the periods; He removes kings and appoints kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, and knowledge to people of understanding. 22 It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. 23 To You, God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, For You have given me wisdom and power; even now You have made known to me what we requested of You, for You have made known to us the king’s matter.”... 29 As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will take place.
Jeremiah 33:1-3; 6
Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, saying, 2 “This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to create it, He whose name is the Lord: 3 ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’... 6 Behold, I am going to bring to it healing and a remedy, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth.
Our Father is so sovereign that He can also hide the meaning of His Word - even from Christ’s own disciples. It’s He who chooses who knows what and when they understand it. A lot of it has to do with our flesh, which we will discuss below.
Luke 18:31-34
31 Now He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that have been written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be ridiculed, and abused, and spit upon, 33 and after they have flogged Him, they will kill Him; and on the third day He will rise.” 34 The disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.
Luke 9:43-45
43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. But while everyone was astonished at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples, 44 “As for you, let these words sink into your ears: for the Son of Man is going to be handed over to men.” 45 But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not comprehend it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.
It is also the Father who gives understanding in all things the Word teaches as we actively contemplate what it says.
2 Timothy 2:7
7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Luke 24:45 45 Then He (Jesus) opened their (disciples) minds to understand the Scriptures,
The Father can give and hide knowledge to whomever He chooses. There is no favoritism with Him.
Romans 2:11
11 For there is no partiality with God.
Luke 10:21
21 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things (The Father's true message) from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants (infantile believers). Yes, Father, for doing so was well pleasing in Your sight.
Acts 4:13
13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.
Matthew 13:10-11
10 And the disciples came up and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.
Sometimes it is simply for our own good that the Father hides truth from us because it may be difficult truth we are not yet ready for. We must trust the Father, by His Spirit, to help us understand the truth that we are ready for as we continually feast on the Word.
John 16:12-14
12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them at the present time. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you.
Even Jesus had knowledge hidden from him by our Father until after he ascended to his throne after his resurrection. Our Father gave him understanding of the things to come through revelation.
Revelation 1:1
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
We are told that the mindset of those who are worldly cannot understand the fullness of the Word. The wisdom that comes from the world cannot understand or discern spiritual things nor know our Father.
1 Corinthians 1:20-21
20 Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
1 Corinthians 2:6-16
6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written: “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the human heart, All that God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among people knows the thoughts of a person except the spirit of the person that is in him? So also the thoughts of God no one knows, except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. 13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural person (someone more concerned with the things of the Earth than godly things; https://biblehub.com/greek/5591.htm) does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But the one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is discerned by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Those who are natural, or carnal, cannot understand the truth of the Word because satan has blinded them to it by hardening them in their flesh.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world (satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Only when we turn from our carnality and become spiritual will the veil of understanding be lifted so we may know the truth of the Father's Word completely.
2 Corinthians 3:12-16
12 Therefore, having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,13 and we are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not stare at the end of what was fading away.14 But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts;16 but whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Notice how the veil is only removed "in Christ." This message of understanding by way of renewal is constantly on replay. To be "in Christ" the old carnal self needs to be done away with and the new spiritual self needs to be brought about.
For a deeper study on what it means to be "in Christ," see the post, "Sealed in Christ".
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
This process of becoming new can only happen by first renewing the spirit of our minds.
Ephesians 4:17-24
17 So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
This renewal is a daily phenomenon. Taking our mind off worldly things and placing them on heavenly things allows us to understand our Father's will given to us through His Word.
2 Corinthians 4:16
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day.
Romans 12:2
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Day by day, as we die to this world with its passions and lusts, we must seek to place our minds in heavenly places.
2 Corinthians 4:18
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.
Colossians 3:1-3
1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
By neglecting to reside in these heavenly places, in which our Father gives to those who seek "the new creation", the infantile Christian continues to walk in very similar ways to the non-believing population. Notice how the infantile believer is still not acquainted with the Word of righteousness. They don't understand the difference between right and wrong the way our Father sees it. They are still very carnal in their mindset and living. I believe this is why knowledge was hidden from the disciples at various times until they were ready for it.
Hebrews 5:11-14
11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become poor listeners. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the actual words of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
1 And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to consume it. But even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like ordinary people? 4 For when one person says, “I am with Paul,” and another, “I am with Apollos,” are you not ordinary people?
Right out of the gate from our born again moment, we are given the promise that God will fill those who hunger and thirst for this Word of righteousness. For those who don't foster a hunger for it, even the righteousness they think they have will be taken.
Matthew 5:6
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Luke 8:16-18
16 “Now no one lights a lamp and covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see the light. 17 For nothing is concealed that will not become evident, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
Matthew 13:10-13
10 And the disciples came up and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
But as these immature believers hunger, study, and are renewed in their thinking and living (from carnal to spiritual), they grow in respect to their salvation. They are weaned from the milk and can begin tolerating the meat of the Word, which is for the mature.
1 Peter 2:1-3
1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
Isaiah 28:9-10
9 Whom will he teach knowledge? and whom will he make to understand the message? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts? 10 For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little.
It is only by grace that our Father rasies us up to reside in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (as "the new creation").
Ephesians 2:4-6
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, (this is the manifestation of Christ in us as "the new creation") 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds.
As the immature believer studies and searches for understanding, they will prove a love for the Word and the Father will bless them with understanding. It is that understanding of His Word that will protect us from false knowledge others may present. This false knowledge is what kills the soul.
Proverbs 2:1-22
1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom; Incline your heart to understanding. 3 For if you cry out for insight, And raise your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He watches over the way of His godly ones. 9 Then you will discern righteousness, justice, And integrity, and every good path. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart, And knowledge will be delightful to your soul; 11 Discretion will watch over you, Understanding will guard you, 12 To rescue you from the way of evil, From a person who speaks perverse things;13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; 15 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; 16 To rescue you from the strange woman (churches), From the foreign woman who flatters with her words, (These are the ear tickling sermons presented by these woman who depart from sound doctrine ~ 2 Timothy 4:3-4)17 Who leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; 18 For her house sinks down to death, And her tracks lead to the dead;19 None who go to her return, Nor do they reach the paths of life. 20 So you will walk in the way of good people And keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will live in the land, And the blameless will remain in it; 22 But the wicked will be eliminated from the land, And the treacherous will be torn away from it.
These "women" who reject true knowledge, will be rejected by our Father.
Hosea 4:6
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Since you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the Law of your God, I also will forget your children.
They would rather take refuge in the lies of the enemy than in the truth of our Father's Word.
Isaiah 28:14-15
14 Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, 15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we have made a pact. The gushing flood will not reach us when it passes by, Because we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception.”
Our Father protects those who hunger for righteousness from these "women." Only through an understanding of the Word do we receive the true knowledge, which is that "new creation." As we hunger, we learn. As we learn we change. As we change, our Father grants us deeper understanding, which leads to more change. It is a never ending loop of transformation.
Colossians 2:1-4
1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and that they would attain to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments.
This is why Paul continually prays for more understanding and knowledge for the saints.
Philippians 1:9-10
9 And this I pray, that your love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ;
Ephesians 1:15-17
15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
Ephesians 3:14-19
14 For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, 17 so that Christ (the Word made flesh) may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.
Colossians 1:9-10
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Philemon 1:6
6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for the sake of Christ.
We must all seek the purging of any false understanding we may have so we would become a "new lump" filled with nothing but the unleavened Word of sincerity and truth.
1 Corinthians 5:6-8
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let’s celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Only by the grace of God can we move beyond worldly ideologies that leaven our understanding of the Word. As our old self dies, it creates more room for our Helper to teach us all things.
John 14:26
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.
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