The Holy Spirit wants to uncover something not commonly seen as we read Scriptures. We must allow the light of the Holy Spirit shine on and through them. Otherwise, our concept of them will be very small and short-sighted. Sometimes He will simply show us an unusual understanding or insight seen through the Holy Spirit through reading and or pondering a passage or individual Scripture. At other times, He will lead us to a word used and urge us to look up the word in the original language (all can do this with the web. Simply go to BibleHub.com, select the interlinear and discover what you never dreamed was said).
“For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 KJV
Proverbs 2:1-7 KJV
“My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
If thou seakest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.”
As you read the passage above there are several obvious things we see and understand. One of those “things” is simply that the more attention a person gives to what is written, the more they understand what is being said.
Notice the progression:
- Receive the word. (read, study)
- Hide the words in our heart (think on them, mediate on them.)
- Incline our heart to wisdom (begin to obey from the inside out)
- Apply our heart to understanding (begin to be molded inside by its truth)
- Cry out for knowledge (Literally cry out to the Lord for his knowledge)
- Lift up your voice for understanding (again, it’s not a seeking head knowledge at all – rather cry-out, you’re all in – and make a big deal of it with the Lord); deeply desiring to “see” what is hidden.
- Seek her as silver (dig deeply like in a silver mine – not an easy nor surface search)
- Search for her as for hidden treasure (you are deeply intent and serious about seeing the unseen and knowing the unknown.
Then…… you begin to “see and know” what can only be seen and known by the Spirit. It has been there all along. Bible knowledge that is on the surface will leave you empty in your heart. But Bible Knowledge that has been opened to you through the Spirit as you searched one level, then the next, and the next, and the next (you get the picture) results in an understanding of God Himself – not just things said about Him.
I refer you to Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:17, “I pray that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”
The first 14 verses of Ephesians 1 share with us the “automatic” things that occur when we become born from above. But in the above verse reveals that these things: “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” are not automatic, but rather granted through prayer and seeking. The knowledge in this passage is “full experiential” knowledge of our Father.
In today’s church body, most are casual seekers at best – wanting only what He can do for us, or how we can be better, or (and that list and reality is vast). However, that level of seeking (and it is answered) will never bring what the heart is longing for. Only the breath of the Holy Spirit blowing across the words and igniting them with fire and breath of the Holy Spirit can satisfy the longing heart.
Well, beloved, we have some work to do, don’t we. None of the above is talking about us getting somewhere or becoming someone. It is all based on getting to know Him, the fellowship of His sufferings, and the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10 JKV)
Mannaword 