1 Corinthians 8:2 English Standard Version (ESV) If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.

Picking up where we left off yesterday, we must come to an understanding of the differences between reasoning and revelation. Our whole life up until this point has consisted of being given information and using our minds to reason our truths for ourselves. There are so many different schools of thought that it should be obvious that these students of the world are drawing information and training from different disciplines.

Revelation only comes from God and transmitted to us by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. The interesting thing about spiritual revelation is that it does not come because we desire to understand. God who knows us better that we know ourselves will reveal truth as we are able to accept it. That part of this life in Christ requires a new way of thinking.

Romans 12:2 English Standard Version (ESV) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Discernment is not a reasoning, rational thought calculated by our old school training. This new mindset seeks the will of God and not our own. It accepts truth without imposing our own desires. It does not seek the answer it wants.

As we grow in Christ our childhood might seem to be left behind as we mature but please understand what Jesus meant in Matthew 19:14, “Come to me.” We will never outgrow our need to come to Jesus. Considering ourselves to be so mature that we can walk on our own two feet places too much importance on self, and self is where selfish lives.

Matthew 19:14 English Standard Version (ESV) but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Yesterday we spoke about babies and that some of the difficulties associated with recognizing that we do not know anything about kingdom living when we become born again. There is a spiritual awakening, called the quickening, that occurs and it takes time to recognize these changes.

Babies are meant to grow up and the next stage in kingdom living is childhood. Once again, there is the resistance in the flesh to see ourselves in terms of spiritual growth because we have achieved mental growth and some maturity in the world. They are not the same and this can be confusing to some.

People grow at different rates and it might be difficult for others to recognize the initiate’s development from baby to child. Jesus tries to help us understand that transition here in Matthew 19:14.

The first stages of childhood begins with learning to walk. Kingdom children learn to walk with Jesus and learn about Him directly from the Holy Spirit. This will happen because as babies they had a healthy diet of the Word. The healthier the diet the better their spiritual growth. The Holy Spirit will do what He does best without being overly obvious. It takes time for children to understand they are being instructed by the Holy Spirit as they have pastors, teachers and fellow Christians in their lives trying to help them grow in Christ.

The influences of others can hinder the development of those spiritual ears and eyes. Errors in discipleship can come with good intentions because that is the way they were taught. What needs to happen during these first years of childhood is to develop those spiritual ears and eyes to receive instruction directly from the Spirit of Truth.

1 Corinthians 8:2 English Standard Version (ESV) If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.