THE WISDOM OF THE SPIRIT
#238.0399
scottStanley
(For purposes of clarity, all scriptures presented have been edited with the author’s paraphrase as indicated by brackets [ ].)
I would like to begin this study with a question, and I want you to really think this through. Consider this with me: What is the difference between the term "spiritual wisdom" as compared to "the wisdom of the spirit"? Now, these are two different things – "spiritual wisdom" as compared to "the wisdom of the spirit." When we talk about the wisdom of the spirit, that includes, that encompasses all of His wisdom – the wisdom of the Father through the Son, to me. Spiritual wisdom would be a category that you would place under the wisdom of the spirit. The wisdom of the spirit, again, encompasses all of God’s wisdom – you could say all of the knowledge, everything that He knows and understands. Spiritual wisdom is only a part of that. In Colossians, chapter 1, there is a scripture that we read over and over in these studies, but I want you to keep this in mind – the difference between the wisdom of the spirit and spiritual wisdom.
Colossians 1:9
9 ¶ For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
For years, in my Christian life, I only looked at things one way, and that was literal – and when I began to realize spiritual wisdom was a reality, that there really was this thing called spiritual wisdom, because I had been on the literal for so long, I began to look and spend all my time looking at things spiritually – and I know that it is spiritual wisdom that has life. I know that the literal may be true, but life is in the spiritual principles that it teaches. But I want you to consider this thought: The literal outward things are there, are used, are schoolmasters, to teach me spiritual wisdom – but it doesn’t stop there. Spiritual wisdom, then, can help me understand outward, literal events.
I cannot come to spiritual wisdom and stop there. I’ve got to recognize that the Lord ... let me give you an example: Let’s say Christ at Calvary... When you go read these actual events that took place – the crown of thorns, the nakedness, the sun being dark that day, nailed to a cross, the nails in the hands and feet – when you look at the literal events that took place that day, it teaches you spiritual truth. If you understand that all of those things were written as a schoolmaster to teach us of spiritual truth, then when you see the crown of thorns, the nakedness, the darkness and so on, you see Christ dying in place of the sin nature, slaying that sin nature – He had become sin and all of those things are pictures of that. Once I see the spiritual truth and realize that all of those things inwardly show my death at Calvary – the fact that He died as me, He died as a sinner and slew my sin nature – then that spiritual truth will help me understand literal events. Now what do I mean by that? Well, when a person is living in sin, when a person is still following their own will, it’s obvious that they don’t understand the death at Calvary and I can look at that person and, knowing the spiritual truth I know, I can discern where that person is inwardly. His outward show of life is showing me where he is inwardly, and my spiritual understanding of the literal event of Christ, the spiritual understanding I have gleaned from that, is helping me understand the outward events that are taking place in the people around me. It helps me understand the outward events of my own life.
So when I come to the scriptures and I read, again, in Colossians 1:9 that we might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom, and spiritual understanding... you see, His will, the will of God and the knowledge of God contains everything. He was there when the heavens and earth were created; He was there when Israel came out of Egypt; He was there when Jonah was swallowed by the fish – all of these things are a part of God’s wisdom. And if I am going to walk in all wisdom and spiritual understanding of it, then I cannot negate these outward events of history, and my spiritual wisdom will help me understand outward, future events and present truth that is happening even as I speak. So, with that under our belts, let’s go on, let’s move on to Ephesians, chapter 1. Several months ago I did a study talking about Laodicea and how Laodicea is wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked, and he says, "but you know it not." In that study, I just entitled it "They Know it Not," and I asked the question in there: "How could a person be in that condition and not know it?" How could you be in that condition and not realize that you’re blind; not realize that you’re wretched and miserable? It’s obvious that "Laodicea" is living in a sinful nature and Calvary has not had its affect on them. It’s true now, that you can be abiding in Christ; it’s true that you can be listening to the voice, but it’s also true that you can be abiding in Christ and still have a sin nature, and it’s obvious that’s what’s happening with Laodicea.
When you enter into the abiding truth, you have become a priest of God, you have entered into the sanctuary – the mind of Christ, but remember, there are two compartments, and in the first compartment you are receiving the life experience of Michael and Jesus – you’re eating the "shewbread"; you have "seven lights" – you have perfect, complete lighting now. You have an "altar of incense," where the incense is burned on the coals of fire, but there’s still a "veil" – and Calvary (the understanding of Calvary) brings down that veil. Let me say this: The spiritual understanding of Calvary brings down that veil, and it’s obvious Laodicea is in a place where the spiritual understanding of Calvary is not affecting them. It doesn’t mean they haven’t heard it – it means it hasn’t been assimilated and understood in their character, and become a part of their faith.
Now Christ’s admonition to Laodicea is to "buy of me" – in other words, take your treasures, your "riches" and trade them for His. Buy of me white raiment that you may be clothed, and gold that’s already been tried in the fire (that’s His faith, that’s His understanding). But He also says eye-salve that you may see and, as I thought through that, I thought you know, without the eye-salve you’ll never have the "gold" or the "white raiment" and really have it become yours. In other words, you’ve got to see it and understand it, and apply it – assimilate it. The "eye-salve," in so far as I understand it is found in Ephesians, chapter 1. In Ephesians 1, I want to start reading at verse 17:
Ephesians 1:17
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, [who is] the Father of glory, [that the Father] may give unto you [a] spirit [or a mindset] of wisdom and revelation in [His knowledge].
Now, I looked this up and in your margin it says "for the acknowledgment of," but I looked it up in the Greek and it’s actually the word in – "in" and in the Greek it’s knowledge of Him. But it’s His knowledge – the knowledge that He carries in His mind, all right? So when you do that, when you have a mindset of wisdom and revelation to receive God’s knowledge (and remember, we’re talking about the wisdom of the spirit, not simply "spiritual wisdom" but the wisdom of the spirit) – with the wisdom of the spirit, walking in the knowledge of God, in verse 18:
Ephesians 1:18
18 [This will enlighten] The eyes of your understanding ...
So I understand that this eye-salve that will help me have the white raiment, that will help me have the gold that has already been tried, is to seek God to give me a spirit of wisdom and revelation of His knowledge. I want to walk in the knowledge of God and when I do this, the eyes of my understanding will be enlightened. Now, as you keep reading this in Ephesians 1:18, there are three things that take place – three things that happen when you are walking in God’s knowledge. The first thing is that you’ll know the hope of His calling. When you begin to walk in God’s knowledge, when you have a spirit of wisdom and revelation knowledge – wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God, this will open your eyes to see the hope of His calling. What is the hope of His calling? What is His hope for His church in calling them? I believe it’s perfection; I believe it is the perfection of the believer – the hope of His calling. Let’s hold our place in Ephesians, because we’re going to come right back to this, and turn to Jeremiah, chapter 18, before we continue reading in Ephesians – Jeremiah, chapter 18, I want to start reading at verse 1, and I want you to just let this sink in. This is so precious:
Jeremiah 18:1-2
1 ¶ The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause [you] to hear my words.
"My words" is [1697] – that is my spoken word. Now it’s obvious, isn’t it? I will cause you to hear my words. Well, that word right there, translated "my words" is the same word translated "commandments" in ten commandments. So what if I read this like this: I will cause you to hear my commandments. You see, doesn’t that leave a different impression on your mind? "I’ll cause you to hear my commandments," knowing that the Lord is getting ready to say something to Jeremiah, and Jeremiah is going to hear it in his spirit. Well, apply that to the "ten commandments" (this is just a side note – I want to keep reading Jeremiah 18). Verse 3:
Jeremiah 18:3-6
3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5 Then the [commandment] of the LORD came to me, saying,
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are [you] in [my] hand, O house of Israel.
So think about this for a minute: We are like clay vessels and in the hand of the potter – our "potter" is the Creator of the universe. Can He not take this vessel and make it a perfect vessel? As Jeremiah was told to look at this potter and how the clay was marred in the hands of that potter, well he made it another vessel as it seemed good to the potter to make it. Well, our potter is God. How do you think it seems good for Him to make it? Remember, when you have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in God’s knowledge, it’s going to open your eyes to see and understand the hope of His calling – this is the first thing – "the hope of His calling." You are a vessel in the hand of the potter. What do you think God, as the potter, is going to do to this vessel? Is He going to leave it marred? Can you see the Lord doing that? He is going to bring it to perfection – He is going to bring it to absolute perfection; this is the hope of His calling. And I think it’s interesting as you continue to read this in Jeremiah 18 – I want to go ahead and include this, verse 7:
Jeremiah 18:7-11
7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil [I’ve] thought to do unto them.
9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
10 If it [does] evil in my sight, that it [doesn’t] obey my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
11 ¶ Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: ...
And I can’t read this without also including Isaiah 45, verse 7, where he says: I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create evil. I the Lord do all these things. I wonder if Isaiah 45:7 isn’t better explained using Jeremiah 18:11 – I frame evil against you. In other words, these evil things that begin to happen to you is the evil that God is framing... He is putting in positions, allowing these things to happen. Not that He literally created evil, but He frames that evil that happens to you in your life – His purpose is to bring you back to Him; His purpose is to bring you to your knees, to teach you humility. But in Jeremiah 18:11:
Jeremiah 18:11-12
11 Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.
12 And [here’s what] they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.
When Jeremiah brought them the truth about the potter; when Jeremiah told them that if you do evil, the Lord’s going to frame evil; if you’re doing good, He’ll repent of the evil and come back, and continue to work with you and help you in every way possible, but He is the potter, you are the clay; can He not perfect you? Their answer was: No, He can’t. We’re going to walk after our own devices; we’re all going to do after the imagination of our own hearts, you see? And that basically is what I have grown to expect from most denominational groups, and even some that are not – even people who have separated from the denominations. When you start bringing them the message of perfection, their attitude is one of: Who can make war against this beast? Who can fight this thing? You see, the whole idea is: Our Lord and Savior died with a crown of thorns; our Lord and Savior died as a naked man; our Lord and Savior died in what spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt – He died in that "city"; He died in that mindset, and He has been raised again to bring you a perfected mind that the sin nature has been slain in. The sin nature in Him is gone and, when you enter into Christ, you enter into that state of sinlessness, that state of being that He is in, and He is able to keep you there and to keep you from falling. As we develop a hearing ear and understanding hearts, He develops holiness in His people and this is the hope of His calling.
But it is true that most "Christians" don’t believe He can do it – they are waiting for the second coming. They are waiting for the literal resurrection, but remember, that literal resurrection is a teaching tool to teach me an inward truth – the spiritual wisdom of it. The wisdom of the spirit is telling me there will be a resurrection. You know, it’s interesting, someone in our church the other day read Romans 8, and I want to read this because it has to do with the resurrection. In Romans, chapter 8, reading from verse 11:
Romans 8:11
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies [because of] his Spirit [that’s dwelling] in you.
So here, the wisdom of the spirit is telling me there’s going to be a time when my mortal, fleshly body is given life – the resurrection, but that teaches me a spiritual truth. The spiritual truth is I can be resurrected now. The second coming of Christ will bring this resurrection – the outward. Receiving Christ even now will bring an inward resurrection. We’re going to read that in just a moment in Ephesians 1, but it will bring an inward resurrection, and then this spiritual truth is going to help me understand outward events – outward events such as when I am noticing changes taking place in my own actions, in my own thought patterns, in my own power and strength that is coming upon me as I walk in the Lord Jesus Christ, you see? So let’s go back to Ephesians, understanding this, that when you receive the eye-salve... let me back up: Just because you’re abiding in Christ doesn’t mean you’re living without sin in God’s perfect will. "Sin" is self and the first compartment of the sanctuary – yes it has the shewbread, yes it has perfect light – but there is still a "veil" between you and the next compartment that contains the Ark of the Covenant.
And remember, in Revelation 11:19, when the temple of God is opened in the heavens, there was seen in the temple the ark of His testament, which tells you the veil was gone. You see, to open that temple and look in it, you wouldn’t be able to see the ark of the testament unless the veil was missing – so there comes a time when that veil comes down. That happened when Christ died... when the "old man" died. So the Savior will come to you; He will give you a resurrected life and that veil will come down, and you will be worshiping God and abiding in the spirit without that second veil. So the hope of His calling, the hope of His calling is your perfection. The hope of His calling is to be able to feed us enough information of His understanding, of His knowledge – first we receive a spirit of wisdom in Revelation in His knowledge so that we can begin to receive His knowledge and, when that happens, the hope of His calling is to bring His church to a completed perfection. So in Ephesians 1, again, verse 18:
Ephesians 1:18
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that [you’ll] know what is the hope of his calling, [That’s (1) – here’s number (2)] and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance [is] in the saints,
I want you to think about that phrase: The riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. The riches of the glory – "glory" is character: Thoughts, opinions, ideas. The riches of the glory – the riches of Christ are unsearchable. Paul says, Oh, the depth of the riches of the knowledge of God in Romans 12 (I believe it is). So here we have your understanding, your eyes being enlightened so you would know the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. Does that mean He Himself inherits something, or that you inherit something? I have been looking at it that the riches of the glory are of God, and this is His inheritance which He puts in the saints – "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints," that we would receive this. The eye-salve is going to open your eyes to receive His knowledge – the riches of His glory of His inheritance in the saints. I want to be in that place because that is immeasurable – that is something almost too wonderful, so wonderful I can hardly comprehend it. But I know that my mind is infinite, and it is capable of receiving the knowledge of God and never tiring, never becoming so full I can’t receive another thought and, throughout all eternity, I’m going to be receiving the thoughts of God... the knowledge of God, the understanding of God – and I’m going to be growing more and more and more and more like Him. I want you to think of this with me, and think this through... that the Son of God, when He created Adam in the Garden of Eden, of course, created a being capable of containing the mind of Christ.
When the Son of God became a human being, His mind was in a human brain, in this "earthen vessel" – so we know the brain can contain the mind of the Son of God and, as I thought this through one day, I was realizing that that really had an effect on that man. When the Son of God came into human flesh, that really had quite an effect on Him and I wanted to understand exactly what effect that did have; exactly how was humanity combined with divinity – because if the Father took the mind of Michael and put it in sinful flesh, the effect of the sinful flesh, the effect that would have on His mind would mix humanity with divinity inwardly. Let me give you an example and just bear with me on this, but when you think of Michael – for instance, if we were to go back to Joshua, chapter 5, where Joshua sees Him with His sword drawn and full armor before they go take the city of Jericho, he sees Him and asks, "Are you with us or against us?" and He says, "I’m the captain of the Lord’s host" (or the prince of the host) and Joshua falls down and worships at His feet. Well, that was believable to Joshua, when he was told that – he could look at this figure before him, Michael, and believe that this is the captain of the host. But when that mind of Michael was put in sinful flesh, and now He’s standing before you as Jesus Christ telling you He is the Son of God, or the Son of Man, people didn’t believe it. In fact, we come to the day where they are spitting on Him and slapping Him, and beating Him and ridiculing Him and mocking Him because He was claiming to be that individual. In fact, it states in the gospel of John, His family thought He was beside Himself through His ministry. He wasn’t receiving that same recognition as He did when He was Michael.
What effect do you think that had on His mind? It was teaching Him something called "humility" – He was learning what true humility was all about. Imagine Him standing before a group of people and them jeering at Him and crying out to crucify Him, and He knew all along who He truly was. He was not accustomed to that kind of treatment when He was at home before the angels with His heavenly Father. He was not accustomed to that kind of treatment, and that was affecting Him. Now, keep following me here... What about when He was hanging on the cross? When He was naked? What was happening to His mind then? What was going through His mind then, as He hung naked with His mother standing out there looking at Him? Do you not see humility there? Why did He have to endure that? Because that "humility" and dying to self – that kind of humility is an attribute of God Himself. Remember in Colossians, chapter 2, where it says: He is the fulness of divinity bodily? I want to suggest something to you: He was not the "fulness of divinity" until He was resurrected and His mind was perfected, and God the Father came to a rest in dealing with His Son.
The Father entered the "Sabbath day" with His only begotten Son – He rested because He was now complete. The Son of God, after the resurrection, was now the fulness of divinity – there was something He had to learn, and that was the humility of God. God is a humble being – now follow me – and the Son of God had to become a man in order to learn that attribute. That means, when God created man, in the beginning, man was carrying the capacity, or I should say the potential to reflect a certain characteristic of God called "humility." We can manifest the humility of God as human beings – that is something we can learn. Now it’s true, as we grow up, the world teaches us to think the opposite direction – that only one ... "stand for number one," that’s you, and don’t die to self and get what you want. See, that’s the opposite of God. As a human being, you can learn a depth of humility that the angels can never, ever understand. Michael could not understand until He became a man. Remember, Hebrews, chapter 2, and I want to read this because this states it to me. In Hebrews, chapter 2, verse 17:
Hebrews 2:17
17 Wherefore in all things [he ought] to be made like unto his brethren, that he [would become] a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
So becoming a human being brought Him to a place where He could now experience a depth of humility He could never learn as Michael. Now, stay with me – God the Father knew this before He ever brought forth His Son. God the Father knew this before He ever created humanity through the Son. God the Father understood Himself well enough to know what it was going to take in actual events to teach His only begotten Son this characteristic about Himself, God the Father. God the Father understood His humility, knowing that Michael was going to have to endure this before He will be the fulness of Me. You see, there is only one God... He knows everything; He knew what Michael needed to complete that mind, and He knows what you need to complete yours – and Michael is there to give you that gold already tried in the fire, and the white raiment, and the eye-salve. "The hope of His calling" is perfection; "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints" includes an understanding of yourself, and allowing the Son of God to put that old man to death and set you free from it. The humility the Son of God learned could only have been learned by Him as a human being and He did learn it, and He is the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Can you also see where the Son of God had to have literally gone through the humiliation that He did in order for it to affect Him the way it did? In other words, why couldn’t the Father have looked at Christ and said: You know, I’m reading your heart and I see that you would go through with it, so you really don’t have to do it. I see where you would do it? You see, Christ cannot give you something He doesn’t have. We can’t give each other something we don’t possess and it was that literal going through with it, it was that facing of the humiliation and remaining faithful to the commandments of His heavenly Father that sealed Him, that put the pressure on Him to perfect Him forever, to complete that perfection forever. Now, having faced death, even the death of the cross (as Paul puts it in Philippians, chapter 2), He can give you "gold tried in the fire." It has been tried, it has been proven and He can give this to you. Once more, you and I need to take it, be clothed in it, and be proven ourselves. Remember, the last generation will go through a period where they are put under pressure and sealed, and what they have believed that has been understood and assimilated and is now their faith, it too will be tried, and it will become theirs permanently, sealed in them... the righteousness of God forever. The Son of God had to go through what He went through to give you that gold tried in the fire.
Let’s go back to Ephesians, chapter 1, and let’s look at the third thing mentioned here. These things are really exciting when I read this and it is just food for my soul, meat in due season. I just pray that all of us can be receiving from the Lord those things we need. The other day, I was seeking the Lord because I just felt turmoil in my spirit, and I spent time on my knees before the Lord and He shared three things with me that I personally needed to do, and the second thing He told me was to seek Him for what this church needs – that I should be seeking Him, I should say, to be more aware of what He is telling me that this church needs, and I believe I am in that place even now as I speak, making this recording for you. You know, I don’t know everyone’s needs and problems, but I know that He does, and I pray that these studies are a blessing to you in that you are applying the principles and allowing the spirit of God to give you His wisdom, so that you can make those needed changes in your life. We are running out of time and I believe the Lord is bringing more and more people to hear this message – whether or not they are receiving it is another thing – but I know, due to the web site, I’m mailing out more tapes than I ever have and we’re doing it for free... more and more people are receiving these studies. A handful are coming back, asking for more. If only one person did, it would be worth it to me, but I know the message is going to many, many, many more people than it would have without the web site and, like I say, if they reject it, as Paul stated in Acts 13, they are judging themselves unworthy of eternal life. I just pray to be able to give it, and I praise God for the handful, and I praise God for this remnant church – a group of people who are seeking to know and understand, and are willing to lay down their own opinions.
You know, when we talk about coming out of "Egypt" and coming out of the world, we have looked at "worldliness" as all these outward things: smoking, drinking, and so on – but "worldliness" is defined in 1 John 2:16 as lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and pride, and I believe those three things are the same thing. All of them are dealing with your own opinion. What we actually were delivered from when we came out of the world was our own opinion about how to live, and we began to lay down all of these outward things because the Lord was moving in us inwardly. There is a scripture I want to discuss with you, and we have used this many times. Before we get back to Ephesians 1, and we get into this third thing, this resurrection power, before we do, let’s turn over to 1 Peter – and it’s chapter 2, and this is something that we have talked about in the past, something that we have discussed but I want to make sure that we grasp this. In 1 Peter, chapter 2, starting at verse 1:
1 Peter 2:1-2
1 ¶ Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that [you] may grow thereby:
Now, this actually reads, verse 2: As newborn babes desire the reasoning genuine milk of the word. The word "word" is actually reasoning. I’m sorry, it would read like this: As newborn babes desire the reasoning genuine milk. Reading 1 Peter, chapter 2:2:
1 Peter 2:2
2 As newborn babes, desire the [reasoning genuine] milk ...
Another word for "genuine" is unadulterated: The reasonings that are genuine; the reasonings that are unadulterated. As newborn babes desire the reasonings that are perfect, that are genuine, that are unadulterated. That only comes from God through Christ. He has already said, at the end of chapter 1, that you are born again by means of the spoken word. Then he says: As newborn babes, now, desire the unadulterated reasonings or thoughts of Christ. Here the King James, the way it’s written, we have pointed to the Bible to say that, as a newborn Christian, I come to this book and I start reading this book – but that isn’t what he is saying. He is telling you to desire the reasonings of Christ, and here it’s equated with "milk." The "reasonings of Christ" are equated with milk. Now, follow this with me because I want to read a few more "milk" verses, and I want to lead into something and make a point with you. Of course, another "milk" verse is found in Hebrews, chapter 5 – and in Hebrews 5, verse 13:
Hebrews 5:13-14
13 For every one that [uses] milk is unskilful in the [spoken] word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat [belongs] to them that are [perfect], even those who [because of exercise] have their [mental faculties] exercised to discern both good and evil.
Here, "milk" is for those who are unskillful in the spoken word of righteousness. This ties in with Isaiah, chapter 28, and I want to ask you to turn back there with me, to Isaiah 28, verse 9:
Isaiah 28:9
9 ¶ Whom shall he teach knowledge? [Now remember, in Ephesians 1, that you would have a spirit of wisdom in revelation in God’s knowledge... Who shall he teach knowledge?] and [who] shall he make to understand [the hearing]? [Now, the King James has put the word "doctrine" right there: Who shall he make to understand the hearing?] them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
When we are walking in the reasonings of Christ and receiving the milk, I’m not so sure that we have understood what it means to hear Him. Who is He going to teach the hearing to? These people who are drawn from the breast; these people who are weaned from the milk – these people can understand "the hearing." And again, remember what he stated in Hebrews 5, I just need to read it one more time so that you can put the two concepts together – Hebrews, chapter 5:
Hebrews 5:13
13 For every one that [uses] milk is unskilful in the [spoken]word of righteousness: ...
Who is He going to teach the hearing to? The people who are drawn from the milk. Now let’s tie in another word with this – go to Isaiah 55. In Isaiah, chapter 55, verse 1:
Isaiah 55:1
1 ¶ Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that [has] no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
What is the difference between "wine" and "milk"? One is a stronger drink than the other; one is for babes, one is for the more mature. Now, let me suggest something to you: We have been saying how "wine" is doctrine, but it is the doctrine, or the understanding, or the teachings of God when we look at it sanctified. Therefore, "wine" is like "milk" in that it’s the unadulterated reasonings of Christ, only it’s for the more mature. Wine and milk are the same principle, but one is a stronger drink than the other. Both have to do with the way Christ thinks – both have to do with that. Wine is deeper meaning, more meaty food. Let’s read another scripture, first of all Proverbs, chapter 9, dealing with "wine":
Proverbs 9:1-6
1 ¶ Wisdom [has] builded her house, hewn out her seven pillars:
2 ... killed her [killing]; ...mingled her wine; ...furnished her table.
3 ...sent forth her maidens: [crying] upon the highest places of the city, [get that: the highest places of the city]
4 Whoso is [easily enticed], let him turn in [here]: as for him that [is lacking a heart, not understanding but a heart]...
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Forsake the [easily enticed], and [have life]; and go in the way of understanding.
Think of communion, and the bread and the wine: Communion with Christ is not bread and milk – communion with Christ is bread and wine, and the "wine" is a depth of understanding. The wine is not milk. Who is He going to teach the hearing to? Those who are drawn from the breast; they are weaned from the milk of His reasonings, and they are receiving a depth or the depth of His reasonings. Communion is with bread and then wine, not bread and milk, and as your understanding deepens, so will your communion with Christ deepen, and have more meaning. And also remember this, when you talk about what "Babylon" teaches, it isn’t the milk of Babylon, it is the wine of Babylon and don’t think there isn’t a depth to their deception. I’m still in Isaiah 55, and I want to point out something, too, about what he is saying here:
Isaiah 55:1
1 ¶ ... every one that thirsteth, come to the waters [or the thoughts], and he that [has] no money; come ye, buy, and eat; ...
This is for people who have no money. What is "money"? Riches – people who recognize that they have nothing; they don’t have an understanding, and they’re willing to give up what they have to receive His. If you are not coming to God in that attitude, you’re not going to receive what He has. This is for people that have no money to come and buy – trade yours for His and eat...
Isaiah 55:1-3
1 ... buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 [Why] do [you] spend money for that which [isn’t food]? and [you] labour for that which [isn’t satisfying you]? [listen] unto me, and eat that which is good, and [then] let your soul delight itself in fatness.
3 Incline your ear, and come [to] me: hear, and your soul [will] live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [what is that?] the sure mercies of David.
When he talks about "the sure mercies of David," what exactly is he referring to? Well, turn to Acts 13 and look at the way it is used here – in Acts 13:34:
Acts 13:34
34 And as concerning that he raised him up [out of] the dead, no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
"The sure mercies of David" have to do with the resurrection and remember what you just read in Isaiah 55 – remember what he stated there: Listen to Me, hearken to my voice. I’ll make a covenant with you, the sure mercies of David. This brings us then to Ephesians, chapter 1 again, brings us back around to this third thing that takes place when you seek God for the eye-salve, and you lay down your opinion – you seek Him for the eye-salve, realizing this folks: As a human being, you can learn a depth of humility that other heavenly beings cannot and when you begin to hear the voice of God and you receive His understanding and knowledge of a thing, He is going to teach you of Himself, that you may learn more of yourself and possess that "key to the abyss" in Revelation (the angel, the key to the abyss – Revelation 20) and the "chain," and bind that adversary forever and ever. Ephesians 1, here is the third thing, verse 19:
Ephesians 1:19-23
19 And what is the exceeding [don’t miss that word: exceeding] greatness of his power [into us] who believe, according to the working of [the ability of his strength],
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead [here are the sure mercies of David], and set him at his own right hand in the [heavenlies],
21 [He’s] Far above all principality, and [authority], and might, and dominion, [He’s above] every name that is named, not only in this [age], but also in that which is [going] to come:
22 [He’s] put all things under his feet, and [He has given] him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 [The church] is his body, the fulness of [the one that fills] all in all.
Just as Christ became the fullness of God bodily, the church is His body, which is the fullness of the One that’s filling all in all – I want that fullness. But let’s come back, looking again at verse 19: When your eyes are opened, receiving His knowledge, the third thing that will happen is you will begin to grasp and portray the exceeding greatness of His power that is being given to those who believe, follow me... you open your heart, He gives you a truth, you believe it, you receive it; it is assimilated into your mind as you understand it, and it becomes in you the power of His faith in you, His understanding in you – and you begin to manifest and walk in the ability of His strength, which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead. Think of what I’m saying! These are the sure mercies of David. Again, I’ve got to quote Isaiah 55 just to make this more understandable – verse 3:
Isaiah 55:3
3 Incline your ear, ...: hear, and your soul [will] live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the sure mercies of David.
That is that "resurrection" that will happen in you when you are walking in His understanding – believing, receiving, assimilating, becoming.... it will be manifest, the ability of His strength manifest, which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead. It’s interesting when you read this in Ephesians, chapter 2, where he writes (let’s start reading at verse 5):
Ephesians 2:5-6
5 ...when we were dead in [faults, character traits... when we were dead in these character traits], [He] quickened us together [in] Christ, (by grace [you’re] saved;)
6 And raised us up together, and made us sit together in [the heavenlies] in Christ Jesus:
What is stated in chapter 1 about Christ is stated in regards to us, the church, as even being past tense for us – the church. It hasn’t literally happened to us yet. How then do I know it literally has happened to Christ, when the same thing is stated? There is a major difference in Ephesians 2, in a phrase that Paul uses in Ephesians 2 that he doesn’t use in chapter 1 in talking about Christ. When he says this about Christ being raised from the dead and set at the right hand of God, and then compare that with what he says about the church in chapter 2 – what he says about the church in Ephesians 2:6 is: It happens to us in Christ. When he is talking about this happening with Christ in chapter 1, he doesn’t say in the Father or in anything – He is saying this happened! See, read this again – look at Ephesians 1:
Ephesians 1:19-20
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power [in us] who believe, according to the working of [the ability of His strength],
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the [heavenlies],
But when he talks about the church, he says we have this resurrection (verse 6) and we are sitting in the heavenlies by being in Jesus Christ – by your mind entering into His, the effect of His life can come into you. Let’s read this again, looking at Philippians, chapter 3, I want to start reading at verse 7:
Philippians 3:7-8
7 But what things were gain to me, those [things] I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things loss for the excellency of [Jesus’ knowledge] ...
Not knowledge about Him, but the knowledge He possesses. This is what we’re reading in Ephesians 1; this is what we’re reading in 1 Peter 2 – The genuine reasonings of milk; this is what we’re reading as we read, who’s he going to teach the hearing to?; this is what we’re reading in Isaiah 55 – incline your ear to me. Hear me, come to me, listen to me – when you do that, He gives you His knowledge, His understanding of a thing. Paul says:
Philippians 3:8-11
8 ... I count [everything] loss [so that I might have] the excellency of [His]: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 ¶ And be found in him [remember Ephesians 2- we’re resurrected, we’re sitting in the heavenlies in Him], [verse 9, Philippians 3: And be found in him] not having [my] own righteousness, which [comes from] the law, but [having] that which is through [Jesus’] faith [the gold that has been tried, the sealing He is sealed with, the character He possesses. That which is through the faith of Christ], the righteousness which is [out] of God [based on] faith: [When I have that, look at what he says in verse 10]:
10 [So] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable [to] his death;
11 [So that] I might attain [to] the resurrection of the dead.
Verse 10 is an inward resurrection; verse 11 is the outward manifestation of the inward truth. Look at it again – verse 10:
Philippians 3:10-11
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, ... [verse 11]
11 [That] I might attain unto the resurrection ...
Let me tell you, the literal event, spiritual wisdom versus wisdom of the spirit – the wisdom the spirit gives me is that Christ was raised from the dead; He can now give me spiritual wisdom concerning that and resurrect me on the inside, and this spiritual wisdom will help me also understand events that are happening outward. And I know, walking in this place, letting Him set me free in my thinking, giving me meat in due season, eating with Him the bread, drinking with Him the wine; letting the veil come down – all of those spiritual truths taking place in my heart; all of the knowledge of Christ in spiritual wisdom is making my literal resurrection, my literal change a reality too. Hope – I have hope... hope that is already received is not hope. Why does a man hope for it if he’s already received it? I’m hoping to be in that resurrection, literal; I’m hoping to see my Savior face to face and I am having faith created in me as I believe what God is telling me, as I look at the outward event, believe it, receive it, let Him give me His spiritual understanding of it; assimilate it, it becomes who I am and I, too, will manifest that outward truth of being raised from the dead, being changed on the outside because I am changed on the inside.
This, you see, is that "righteousness" that God is trying to give us. This is that character that God is trying to create in His people, in His church, in the remnant church to set us free. Anything too far to the right or too far to the left is in the ditch. Stay in the middle of the road but let Him give you His knowledge, His understanding in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, because all of it is needed to perfect the saints. All of it is needed and you and I, knowing what we know, anything less than that is not of God. You and I are responsible for what we know. Don’t go too far and don’t fall back – stay arm in arm with the saints and go forward, and be willing to correct your views, to change as God reveals it to you and to help others change, to help others make it, because that is our ministry – to encourage the church and all of us to move forward in Jesus Christ.
I can’t help but think of Hebrews, chapter 10, and reading, starting at verse 35, talking about these things:
Hebrews 10:35-36
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which [has] great recompence of reward.
36 For [you] have need of patience, that, after [you] have done the will of God, [you] might receive the promise.
Now think of what he’s just said here: God has given a promise to the church and we are walking in spiritual understanding, and we are grasping things like never before but you have not realized the promise yet. You will, as you continue in this.
Hebrews 10:35-36
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which [has] great recompence of reward.
36 For [you] have need of patience, that, after [you] have done the will of God, [you] might receive the promise.
Remember Colossians, chapter 1, what we read, that you have understanding, all understanding of wisdom and spiritual understanding to do God’s will. I need to read that because I want to make it as clear as possible:
Colossians 1:9
9 ¶ ... since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that [you] might be filled with the knowledge of [God’s] will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Hebrews 10:36
36 [you] have need of patience, that, after [you] have done the will of God, [you] might receive the promise.
Put the two together.
Hebrews 10:37
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Don’t think the apostle Paul did not already have Christ in his heart and, in that way, spiritually, Christ had come to this man a second time, but he was not resting and staying in that place – he was continuing to have hope for yet a little while and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Hebrews 10:38-39
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back [into] perdition; but of them that believe [into] the saving of the soul.
Hallelujah! We have a promise and hallelujah, it’s being fulfilled in our hearts, and praise God for every moment He spends with us and for everything He shares with us, and tells us so that we can walk in that completed perfection of the last day church – and I pray for all of us to be in that place, continuing in that place and never being moved out of it.
Resurrection power is only going to come to us when we find death to self – the death of the old man. You are not going to experience resurrection power without death – that’s a contradiction of terms. You cannot be resurrected if you haven’t died and, risking redundancy, I’m going to explain this again: It is the person abiding in Christ (when you enter into the abiding message), it is that person who has been made a priest of God. It is that person who now can enter into the sanctuary to minister. I have based that understanding on Exodus, chapter 19, and I’m going to read it just for the record and because I still have time on the tape, but in Exodus, 19, verse 6:
Exodus 19:6
6 And [you] shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. ...
Why? Because in verse 5:
Exodus 19:5
5 ... if [you] will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant ...
Remember what he said in Isaiah 55, I think it was verse 3: To hear Him, hearken to Him, lean unto Him, bend your ear to Him, incline unto Him, and He’ll make the covenant with you, and the sure mercies of David. But remember here in Exodus 19:5, if you’ll obey my voice, He’s saying it again, and keep my covenant – there it is, then:
Exodus 19:5-6
5... [you’ll] be a peculiar treasure unto me ...
6 And [you’ll] be unto me a kingdom of priests, ...
So with entering into the everlasting covenant where He is writing His understanding on your heart, it is entering into that everlasting covenant where He is giving you His knowledge – the wisdom of the spirit, when He is feeding you truth, truth that you can grasp and help you understand, to assimilate it. When you enter into that place, you now are a priest of God and you have entered into the sanctuary, compartment one. There is a table of shewbread – that is not spiritual understanding. The shewbread is the life of Christ: past, present, and future – it is the life of Christ; it is the experiences of Christ. You are receiving that from Him. You are eating the bread, the living bread – you are receiving this. But there is still a veil in this sanctuary and that is your self; it is that thing that separates between you and God. The day will come as you eat the shewbread (now follow me here) – I know in your life that you are learning of problems in your life and you are overcoming sin, little by little by little ... you’re in the first compartment; you’re eating the shewbread, you have the perfect light; you’re eating the shewbread and changes are being made a little bit every day.
But the day is going to come that the high priest will enter into the sanctuary (this is Christ). He will enter in and give you the understanding of the "blood." I know we have discussed it; I know you have believed it. I don’t know that you understand it and have assimilated it, and it’s affecting you. I know you believe it – I don’t know it’s a part of your being... that is what I’m talking about, because when He comes in and sprinkles the blood, teaches you the meaning of the blood, He gives it to you. You don’t get it off of a tape, He gives it to you. You know, I can’t help but think the apostle Paul, when he says in 2 Corinthians 12 that he was caught up to the third heaven and heard words that, he says, are unlawful to speak – and your margin says they are not possible to speak – when you think about it, when you think of being in that throne room of God, literally, seeing Him on that throne with multitudes of angels present... when you think of that and you think of words being spoken in this place, the apostle Paul says it’s not possible for me to utter this. It isn’t that I don’t want to, I can’t... I don’t have the vocabulary to bring you to that place and that is what I’m saying about the understanding of Calvary.
I know Jesus Christ brought me to that understanding, and I will admit I have been guilty of not dying daily and putting myself in that place like I should, but I am learning to do that. It is different than worshiping God in the first compartment of the sanctuary where I’m eating the shewbread, overcoming a little bit at a time. When He sprinkled the "blood" for me, there was no more veil... that veil came down and I realized I was serving the Lord differently than before. The only way I could explain it is Romans 6, where Paul says the old man dies – you’ve been immersed into the death of Christ and the old man is dead. That’s one thing the Bible is good for, is to give you God’s way of putting it, to help you use God’s vernacular in explaining something in so far as we can – but there are things that one human being cannot convey to another, and this is one of them. I know that as you continue to eat the shewbread in the first compartment, and apply His life to your life, and continue to show yourself faithful in that place, the high priest will come in once and sprinkle the blood, and the "old man" will die, the veil will come down. And when that happens, you become responsible to die daily, to bring your mind into that place and stay there daily... and it’s different than overcoming a little bit at a time. It’s different because the old man is dead.
You see, we’ve been taught this, we’ve been told this, we believe it’s true, but it’s only when our understanding is fine tuned that we can assimilate it, and let it go through our very soul and become who we are. That is what needs to happen to this church. We’re understanding the mechanics of it – I beg you, I plead with you... go back and listen to the studies on "Nothing But Dust" and "Death to Self in Christ" and understand those concepts, because those are the teeth that will chew the meat, that will break it down for you so that you can swallow it. I’m telling you, those are the things, the concepts that need to become who you are, and don’t sit back with that smug look and tell yourself, Oh, I’ve been saved; I’m born again and I’m just as good as he is, and I’m.... I’m not saying I’m "holier than thou," all I’m trying to say is I know God has given me this experience so that I can share the experience with someone else, so that you can be in this place with me – and it’s essential that we do this. It’s essential that we learn humility and meekness, and recognize we are "poor in spirit," and hunger and thirst after righteousness because if we are not in that attitude, we cannot receive the things of God because we are not in that place of a completed perfection yet, and we’re going to have to face quite a turmoil in order to be there – and remember 1 John 4:7:
1 John 4:7
7 ¶ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God [Now listen to this...]; and every one that [loves] is born of God, and [knows] God.
That word "knows" God is not "know" – it’s understands. You see, it’s one thing to be "born of God," it’s another thing to understand God and that is what I am trying to relay to you now. There is a depth of understanding who God is, receiving the life of Christ, the veil coming down – serving God without the veil between you, knowing the old man is dead. By the grace of God, I will learn to stay in that mindset every moment of every day and it isn’t "dying a little bit"... It is dying the death – Revelation 12... the death – they overcame him:
Revelation 12:11
11 And they overcame him [because of] the blood of the Lamb, and [because of] the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
And that is the ultimate – that is bringing that "old man" to the conclusion of death in Jesus Christ and allowing it to be gone forever and ever!
Most gracious Heavenly Father, I pray to be in that place, to be an example to this church and I pray that they see changes in this man. I pray that Your only begotten Son find a home in my heart and keep me in that place of Calvary. I pray to experience that resurrection power that You talk about, that the apostle Paul talks about – to be resurrected in Jesus Christ with all things under my feet, as they are under His. And I pray to be perfected and prepared and ready for the second coming because I know it is nigh. I pray for Your glory, Your righteousness and I thank thee, Heavenly Father. I pray for Your church, in Jesus name, Amen.