LITERAL WORD OR SPIRITUAL?
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Is the Bible firstly a literal word or a spiritual word? If one takes everything written as literal, then there are numerous problems arise! Without the Spirit’s enlightenment, the following do not make any sense! Job tells us about the stars that sing together! (Job 38:7). In Genesis 1: A day, we know is measured by the earth going round the sun! There were three ‘days’ before the sun was created on the fourth day. Tricky! Jesus is referred to as the lamb of God by John … Four legs or two? . . . and maybe, horns? If ‘ever’ is infinity, how can you have an infinity (ever) of infinity as seen in ‘for ever and ever’? In Isaiah 55:12 ‘trees clapping their hands and mountains singing’. 2 Peter 3:8 declares that one day = 1000 years! Naturally, that’s stretching it! A few examples of God showing us the word is to be interpreted by His Spirit so we can grasp what He is saying.
God shows us clearly that things that happened naturally had specific spiritual significance for us. I Corin.10:1-4 ... Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; (2) And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (3) And did all eat the same spiritual meat; (4) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
God says when they ate the manna, these folk ate spiritual food and when they drank the water from the rock, they drank spiritual drink! They at the time didn’t know that, but God has subsequently unveiled the meaning to us.
These two words are both translated ‘word’ in English, but they have a different meaning which is important to recognize for this is a foundation for growth, wisdom and understanding.
LOGOS = the ‘word’ which contains the full intent of the speaker. RHEMA = the ‘word’ from the LOGOS that is presently being spoken to the hearer.
Matthew 13:34 All these things spoke Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spoke he not unto them: As we see from the gospel accounts, Jesus always had to give enlightenment to His disciples — for without it, they were no different from those who only had a natural mind. Today He uses ‘types and shadows’ like parables . . . we need the insight of the Lord to grasp His plans and move in His enabling provision.
It is not by education but rather by revelation that we gain understanding. . . if not, then why did God say through Paul, not many wise are chosen! (I Cor.1:26-30).
The Holy Spirit will teach you all things (John 14:26). That being so, it doesn’t leave too much over for man to solve because he has been to school!
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Spirit words of life come from the mind of Christ, the Living Word.
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself. (31) And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight. (45) Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. One’s ability to read is not sufficient to grasp God;s purposes and ways, we need the Teacher’s input.
John 1:5 And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
‘Darkness’ equates with ignorance while ‘light’ equates with revelation or enlightenment. Natural religious thinking is mostly devoid of spiritual insight.
EARS TO HEAR . . .
Rev 2:7 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Inferred here is that some folk will be teachable and hear what the Spirit of God within each is saying, while others, not wanting to change their thinking or lives, will not hear. The word ‘let’ simply means ‘allow to happen’ . . . so set your will to be teachable (an aspect of meekness).
In the garden of Eden (a picture of your life!), God placed two trees . . . the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. Adam identified with the tree of knowledge and the tree of life was denied him. The second Adam (Christ) was the Tree of life (Living Word) which is now available to all because of Calvary where He crucified the old Adam and his ways that we might be free.
Jesus said, My words they are spirit and they are life (John 6:63).
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The baptism in the Holy SpiriT
People who have been redeemed from the demands of the ‘law’ and saved from the
effects of fallen Adam’s nature, will realize that they have the mind of Christ. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8+9) — this infers that they will be for we are the Body of Christ and the mind of Christ is the full control of His body. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is supernatural and cannot be received just because we know about it. It releases the mind of Christ from within us which will cause us to grow and be changed little by little into His image. The actual words when we speak forth in tongues come from the mind of Christ for all words come out of a mind.
2 Cor 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? (2) Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: (3) Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (4) And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: (5) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; (6) Who also has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.
The ‘law’ (old covenant especially) required that a man did something in order to obtain a blessing. Grace on the other hand is opposite, God has already accomplished all things for His people so all they have to do is accept that it is done and then the experiencing of it will follow. The old covenant is the natural covenant while the new covenant is just that, new! John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Even ‘believing’ is God working in us (John 6:29).
Hebrews 8: 1-5 … O.T. Tabernacle was a pattern for us today ... (1) Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; (2) A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. (3) For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. (4) For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: (5) Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount. Our ‘building’ must follow the same pattern ... thus a tabernacle made without hands (spiritual dwelling place) must match the pattern! The release of the Spirit from within is essential otherwise all so-called wisdom and understanding will be made from natural reasoning. He that hath ears to hear, let (= allow to happen) him hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.
There are many basic helps for receiving enlightenment from the Spirit (see separate writing).§
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