EPHESIANS 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him;
It is first noted that any understanding of GOD or the things of GOD must come from HIM. Apart from the grace of GOD, man is "ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth". HE must grant us an understanding if we are ever to have one.
2 TIMOTHY 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
It is because of HIS grace, not because of our intelligence or experiences that we understand HIS ways. We should never think ourselves more spiritual than others because of how much we understand GOD but rather be humbly grateful for whatever we know of HIM and HIS word, written and Living.
Scripture assures us that it is GOD's desire that all come to a knowledge of the truth. It follows then that an accurate knowledge of the Bible must be available. So be encouraged. If GOD wants something for us, then there must be a way to get it. I'm convinced that when we are not reading our preconceived ideas and traditions into Scripture and are diligent in our study of it, we will gradually begin to understand GOD and HIS word.
We must not allow ourselves to be dissuaded from our course because of the many others with their misunderstandings. We must trust HIM to steer us through those unfamiliar waters. Again, GOD's desire is for us to know the truth so it must be available to tap into this understanding.
JEREMIAH 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.
GOD wants us to know HIM but HE expects us to want to know HIM. Some think that GOD intentionally makes it difficult for us to know HIS word but the truth is all the other way. GOD makes it simple, it is us that make it difficult with our preconceived ideas of who GOD is and what HE expects of us.
Blessed Are Your Eyes
Yeshua (Jesus) is well known for His many parables so it's surprising to learn that He never spoke in parables during the first half of His ministry. He often taught His followers and preached to the multitudes, but midway in His ministry something happened and He began speaking in parables. This of course perplexed His disciples so they asked Him why the change?
MATTHEW 13:10-16 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear!
Hardly noticed here in Scripture is probably the greatest turning point of Yeshua's ministry. Before this He had not taught the people in parables. He began His ministry by teaching in synagogues, then there was the extensive teaching known as "The Sermon on the Mount", recorded over three entire chapters in MATTHEW. He also taught "the people" on the lake of Gennesaret from Peter's boat.
But now His teaching and preaching to the "multitudes" comes to an abrupt halt. Now He speaks in parables. Now He's got people scratching their heads wondering what He is talking about. Why? Because "this peoples heart is waxed gross [become fat]...their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed". They weren't hungry for the truth.
What happened is that Christ testimony was being rejected. He told them the truth but they didn't want to accept it. He was rejected by the people (MATTHEW 11:20-24), He was rejected by His own family (MARK 3:21,31-35 MATTHEW 12:46-50 JOHN 7:1-5), and He was even rejected by some of His own disciples (JOHN 6:66).
"Therefore spake I unto them in parables...but blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear."
If we are to receive what GOD desires to reveal, we must be ready to receive. We must not be "unlearned and unstable" but learned and faithful. We must learn not only how to receive from GOD but also why often we don't. Our hearts must be ready to receive, not waxed gross. Our ears must be attentive, not dull of hearing. Our eyes must be open, not closed.
The word of GOD gives us more than adequate instruction, as well as sufficient warnings so that we are not ignorant or closed off to GOD's grace.
In 1 TIMOTHY, we are cautioned that "some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing [deceiving] spirits, and doctrines of devils". The casual reader of Scripture is ill-prepared to endure, and will most likely "give heed" for these spirits do not deceive lest they come as wolves in sheep's clothing. What else but the truth of Scripture can expose them?! The more truth we build our lives upon, the less we will be deceived. The word of GOD is our beacon in the night, exposing the enemy's snare and enlightening the LORD's way.
2 TIMOTHY 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
It is in turning away from the truth that one is susceptible to the lies of the enemy. How can we know a lie unless we first know the truth? Otherwise we might think the lie to be the truth. This is why GOD repeatedly admonishes us to know the truth and be not deceived,
TITUS 1:9-10 Holding fast the faithful word... For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers...
2 TIMOTHY 2:15-16 Study to shew thyself approved unto God... But shun profane and vain babblings...
2 TIMOTHY 2:22-23 ...follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace... But foolish and unlearned questions avoid...
1 TIMOTHY 1:3-4 ...teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying...
2 TIMOTHY 3:13-14 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned...
COLOSSIANS 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
COLOSSIANS 2:3-4 In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
PHILIPPIANS 3:17-18 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
1 TIMOTHY 4:6-7 ...put the brethren in remembrance of these things... But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
PHILIPPIANS 3:1-2 ...To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
It is certainly not uplifting to speak of the deceiver; but if GOD felt the need to warn us so often on these few pages of Scripture, he must pose a very real threat to our pursuit to understand GOD. It behooves us then to be "wise unto that which is evil". To know the truth and not fall for the lie.
If we do not put GOD's word in our minds, we will have nothing with which to confront and replace the enemy's lies. When the Apostle Paul was rebuking the Apostle Peter as he had slipped away from the truth, Paul exclaimed that he himself did "not frustrate the grace of GOD". "Frustrate" is the Greek word atheteo and is defined "to displace, set aside, disregard, or to reject". Let's not be that way with GOD. Let's not frustrate the grace of GOD by neglecting His word and falling for the lies of the world.
Three Elements
There are three essential elements in being receptive to receive understanding from GOD. The first is faithfulness.
1 CORINTHIANS 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.
It is a requirement in being a steward for GOD that we be faithful. Actually, to be successful in almost anything one must be faithful. Whether it's hatching an egg or running a race, if we quit or give up all our efforts will have been in vain. This is why there is so much emphasis on faithfulness in the Scriptures, especially those few Epistles written by Paul directly to us (i.e.. EPHESIANS, PHILIPPIANS, COLOSSIANS, 1st and 2nd TIMOTHY, TITUS and PHILEMON).
EPHESIANS, the foundational truth of the Mystery of the Church is addressed to "the faithful in Christ Jesus". COLOSSIANS, which is the companion Epistle of EPHESIANS is similarly addressed to "the saints and faithful brethren in Christ". Timothy is instructed by the Apostle Paul to commit these truths "to faithful men".
In these Epistles, twice we are told of Tychicus, a beloved brother, "faithful minister" and fellowservant in the Lord and how he shall make known all things. We are told of Epaphras, our dear fellowservant, who is for you a "faithful minister" of Christ. We are told of Onesimus, a "faithful" and beloved brother who also shall make known unto you all things. And finally Paul exclaims of himself;
1 TIMOTHY 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, Who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.
This doesn't mean that GOD's hands are tied if we are not faithful for we have seen from our time in Part I that GOD does not require faithfulness or any other quality in HIS servants in order for HIM to accomplish HIS purposes. We are here talking about how man can receive from GOD, not what GOD needs from man to accomplish HIS purpose. GOD's purpose will be accomplished with or without man's faithfulness.
I have found much confusion about the difference between GOD's will and man's freedom of will, which is really just his freedom of choice. Unlike GOD, man cannot "will" things to be; he can only make choices which can determine the outcome. I think much of the confusion stems from not differentiating between two Greek words that are ascribed to GOD concerning HIS will. The first is "thelo" which means to wish or desire. One may desire a lot of things he doesn't necessarily bring to pass. Likewise, because GOD has allowed man to have freedom of choice, GOD may desire the best for man and even show him how to receive it, but it is still up to man to choose to follow GOD's directions and receive.
The other Greek word is "boulemai". It has to do with one's deliberate determination in doing or getting something. Unlike thelo, boulemai indicates action is being taken.
A desire (thelo) and decision (boulemai) by Yeshua's stepfather Joseph gives us an early example of these two Greek words in a single verse.
MATTHEW 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing [thelo, desiring] to make her a publick example, was minded [boulemai, determined] to put her away privily.
When Joseph found out that his espoused wife, Mary, was already pregnant before they were to be married he struggled with what to do. Desiring (thelo) not to disgrace her, Joseph decided (boulemai) to secretly put her away. Because of his love for Mary he didn't want to see her hurt by disgracing her. That was his desire (thelo). On the other hand, a tough decision was required and he therefore decided (boulemai) to put her away, but privately so as to not disgrace her. An action must be determined or deliberate (boulemai) but a desire (thelo) need not be.
This is how it is with GOD's will. HE loves us very much and only desires (thelo) the best for us. However, HE doesn't necessarily determine (boulemai) our happiness. Within the limits of GOD's purposes, man has the freedom of choice to desire (thelo) and acquire (boulemai) his own way or pursue GOD's.
This is how GOD over-rules HIS creation. HE allows Satan certain rule under HIM and man certain rule under that, but only GOD over-rules.
ROMANS 9:19- 20 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? [boulemai, HIS deliberate decision] Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
None can resist GOD's deliberate purposes (boulemai) for even for this cause were we made. Nevertheless, man is often resisting GOD's desire (thelo) for him.
1 TIMOTHY 2:4 Who [GOD] will have [thelo, desires] all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Thus, GOD desires all men to be saved and know the truth, but HE doesn't determine it. GOD's deliberate determination (boulemai) is HIS purpose. Our pursuit of that purpose is HIS desire (thelo) for us.
Once we understand the simple difference between GOD's purpose and GOD's desires, we are better prepared for the hand life is dealing us. It is GOD's desire that we go forth and live abundantly within the confines of HIS purposes but HE doesn't necessarily determine it. GOD gives us a perfect example in raising our children. We certainly want the best for them but we aren't about to give them everything they ask for. They may even think they need it and can't live without it. So it is with us and GOD, if we truly do need it HE has promised it and HE will supply it. But if it is a desire that is outside the sphere of HIS desires don't be angry if HE doesn't supply it.
The key here is to faithfully bridle our desires so as to be in alignment with HIS desires. This is first, for if we aren't faithful here, there can be no consistency in our receiving. It would be much like plowing the field, planting the seed, weeding the field but missing the harvest. How many times would it take for that to get old? Not many! We would either quit missing the harvest or as many, give up on the whole affair altogether.
As we begin to pursue GOD's purpose, we must faithfully continue along the path to receive the blessings HE desires for us. It's only the Scripture which can be our guide.
PSALM 111:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Faithfulness to the study of HIS word is the first essential element to receiving understanding from GOD.
Secondly, to receive from GOD we must be the object of HIS grace. We must be in a position to receive. In the seven prison epistles, almost on every page the Holy Spirit recommends us to this grace. In addition, each and every one of these epistles open and closes with this charge to receive grace.
Grace is GOD's gift. Howbeit, though it is a gift, it is not undeserved in the strictest sense of the word. Though there is nothing we can do to earn it, how we live our lives before GOD determines what gifts we receive from HIM. GOD does not waste HIS gifts on those who neglect or misuse what HE has already given. There are things we can do to more easily receive and things we can avoid which make receiving from GOD more hindered. From the Scripture we learn what to avoid and what to pursue.
1 PETER 5:5-6 ...God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace unto the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.
The more deeply we look at the life of Yeshua and how He emptied Himself, the more humble we become. The more we see GOD's abounding grace, the less we think ourselves to be some great one. The Apostle Paul wrote that when he was weak, then was he strong. When he was not able to do something by himself, he was strengthened when he saw GOD pull it off for him. Later he wrote, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me". He was not strong in himself, he was strong in the Lord.
Along with grace, to receive understanding from GOD we would do well to "let the peace of GOD rule in our hearts". Peace is found in Scripture about as frequently as is grace. "He is our peace...so making peace...[He] came and preached peace" (EPHESIANS 2:14-17). We are taught of the "bond of peace" and the "gospel of peace," the "peace of GOD" and the "GOD of peace".
You may have heard the phrase,
The greatest cargoes come in over quiet seas.
Ships have a difficult time docking when the seas are rough and choppy, so they generally lay out in the deep waters and wait until the seas are calm and then come in to unload. So it is with us and GOD. When we are quiet and at peace, we can more easily receive from GOD.
PHILIPPIANS tells us that it's the peace of GOD that keeps our hearts and minds in Yeshua. We have the peace of GOD when we are not anxious, but rather, go to GOD in "prayers and supplications with thanksgiving". Like water off a duck's back, we just have to let life's problems roll off. Nothing that has, is or ever will happen to us caught GOD by surprise. HE is always ready and will ready us if we allow HIM.
ROMANS 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
As much as we are able, we should live as peaceably as possible. Whether it be our neighborhood, our work place or our recreations, they should be as peaceful as possible. If an activity doesn't contribute to our peacefulness, we should really weigh its worth against its cost. Nothing is worth losing the peace of GOD over. Pursuing HIS purpose will lead us and keep us in peaceful waters.
Thirdly, to receive from GOD, we need to give thanks. We need to thank GOD for what HE has allowed us to enjoy as well as thank HIM for what HE has kept from us.
Instead of being angry with GOD because we were denied something we thought we needed, let's rest in GOD's eternal wisdom. Let's remember that HE loves us and would withhold nothing from us if it were truly good for us.
The value system of the world tells us that the more one has, the better off he is. Yet the Bible instructs us to be content with what GOD has given us.
1 TIMOTHY 6:5-10 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred [been seduced] from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
I don't know how GOD could be any clearer, yet nearly all the world and much of Christendom believe that gain is the answer to their problems. No wonder so many are "destitute of the truth", and have "been seduced from the faith". No wonder so many "drown in destruction" and "pierce themselves through with many sorrows". Yet life can be so full and so rich if we will just pursue HIS purpose.
Of course we are not to believe money itself is evil, no matter how little or how much we have. One of the major ways GOD can bless us is with money. Money can buy a good education or needed medical care. Money can bring us closer together by way of automobiles, jet planes and satellite communication networks.
The problem isn't with money but rather with our attitude towards it. More than not, man's worth is measured by his bank account. Too often we are tempted to chase the dollar for no better reason then to stuff our pockets. Yet Yeshua boldly taught;
LUKE 12:15 ...Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Take heed and beware! These are serious charges, and that's how we should receive them.
When we are thoughtfully thankful, we reaffirm that it is because of GOD's goodness that we are what we are. Otherwise, we begin to think we are some great one. The end of that thinking is that our foolish heart will be darkened.
ROMANS 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Not thankful they became vain in their imaginations. They were empty and their foolish heart was darkened. Let's not have foolish hearts. Let's always give GOD the glory and be thankful for all HIS goodness towards us. Every good and perfect gift is from GOD.
So we need to be faithful, just placing one step in front of the other and according to GOD's timetable all things will work together for our good. We need to be in a position to receive from GOD by living our lives according to Scripture and we need to remain thankful for whatever station GOD has allowed us to occupy.
PHILIPPIANS 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
