SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE LORD - PART 2

FRIDAY 01 JULY 2022

Spiritual realities are rich, transforming information spiritually perceived and received by one's spiritual antenna. It involves audience reception and response to the Word, especially how they perceive and analyse the truth they receive. In essence, the meaning of a passage in the Scripture is not entirely inherent within the context of the Scripture itself or dependent on the understanding at face value, but it is interpreted and concluded within the inspired relationship between the passage and the reader - influenced by the Spirit. Also sometimes, the apparent worth or implication of a verse can be decided by the readers' or audience mindset. This explains the reason every Christian is not at the same level of understanding when it comes to receiving the Word in their spirit. However be informed that I'm making reference to born again Christians, not unbelievers.

Reference: 1 Corinthians 11:23 New International Version (NIV) "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread..."

Although Paul is talking about the concept of communion here, in general, the realities we receive from the Lord are not ordinary information. Since the accurate meaning of the Word we receive from the Lord are spiritually discerned, it denotes that the Spirit of God is the One that makes the difference in the way we receive the Word. As a confirmation of this truth, 1 Corinthians 2:13-14 reads, "This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit" (NIV). Did you get it? These realities are taught and revealed by the Spirit. He explains it to us with Spirit-filled words so we can receive them with the right understanding.

As for the unbelieving ones, they are carnally minded and for this reason, they do not accept the realities that come from the Spirit of God but consider them foolishness, and many a time, they read a different meaning to it, because their interpretations are carnally-inspired; hence, they are far from what the Spirit is communicating, since they can't discern the things of the Spirit. Moreover most times, I have personally noticed that even among born again Christians and various church denominations, because of societal, cultural and personal experiences, the reading and understanding of a Scripture could vary slightly. But I thank God that He has a plan for the "end time" body of Christ which is recorded in the passage of the Scripture below:

Ephesians 4:11-14 ~ "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming" (NIV).

Beloved, if you are born again, the best way to deepen the knowledge of the Scripture and be well-informed is to yield to the governing influence of the Holy Spirit. Remember that you can only receive from the Lord if the realities are discerned through the empowerment of the Spirit. Then if you are planted in the right place and environment (Bible-based church), pay apt attention to the right leaders, whom the Lord has handed out the gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train the body of Christ in handling the Word of truth and in exercising skilled service to the Lord, until we're all moving forward rhythmically, with the accurate understanding of the Word of grace, thereby becoming efficient and graceful in our reception and response to the Word, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, and fully conformed to Christ's image. Stay tuned for part 3. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Acts 1:8; 2 Peter 1:3; Colossians 3:23; 1 John 2:27.

Guided Prayer: The revelation of God's Word which I perceive and receive in my spirit establishes His transformative influence in my life. It works effectively in the sense that when I share and announce it, the grace of God is communicated and the lost souls embrace Christ and receive remission of sins. Blessed be God for the transforming power of the Spirit through the ministry of the Word. Hallelujah!