Through the Strainer (part III)

In the course of the last few weeks the Spirit has been impressing on me to read and study the scriptures more and depend on Him to lead, guide, direct and bring revelation-understanding.  Yeshua told His followers that "…the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).  In 1 John 2:27  we read that “…the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him”.

As we know, only the Holy Spirit can bring revelation-understanding of YHVH’s Word.  The main reason being, is that all the fullness of wisdom and knowledge of the mystery of Elohim is hidden in Messiah (see Colossians 2:2-3).  If we depend mainly on human resources for our spiritual food, we may be like the little chick in the nest waiting for the parents to regurgitate what they have eaten, and drop into its mouth.  Obviously everyone starts out as a “babe”, but cannot stay there, growth has to take place.  The Creation itself speaks very loudly about the importance of maturing, for without it, bearing offspring or producing fruit would be impossible.

Paul writes: “I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:2-3).  We are also warned: “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against Elohim; for it is not subject to the Torah of Elohim, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:6-7).  Thus, the “carnal” mind, and its accompanying behavior, is connected to a state of immaturity.

Let us now move on, and place side by side a couple of concepts into the strainer: the wisdom of the carnal mind in contrast to the wisdom of the spiritual mind.  Obviously, as believers our mind can function in both realms.  We can partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, or of the tree of life which is the mind of Messiah.  How can we discern the difference?  The above-mentioned scriptures give us some very obvious clues. The fruit of the first tree produces death - killing, stealing and destroying, while the fruit of the other tree yields life and peace.  Shortly after our ‘arrival’ into this world our minds fall victim to the power of sin, and are indoctrinated by the spirits coming out from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which means that for wisdom and understanding we rely on this world’s perspective.  However, as believers we are warned: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Messiah” (Colossians 2:8).

James further characterizes the worldly wisdom:  “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.  This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.  For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there” (James 3:14-16).  The definition for wisdom, is the accumulated relational experiences with people, places and things, coupled with information, producing a knowledge and understanding of ourselves, others and our culture.  The society, culture and life style that most of us are born into have produced in us good and evil traits and reactions to the situations that we are experiencing or facing.  We are very cognizant of the material world, and very ignorant of the unseen realm.  Only after YHVH calls us out of this dark spiritual kingdom and by grace transfers us to the Kingdom of His Son, are our eyes opened to recognize the difference.  However, the mind, that houses the “wisdom”, has to be renewed: “ Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of Elohim” (Romans 12:2 emphasis added).

“But of Him [the Father] you are in the resurrected Spirit of Messiah Yeshua who became for us wisdom from Elohim—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30 modified). “…The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.  And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:17-18).

“Therefore as you have received Messiah Yeshua the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude…for in Him you have been made complete…” (Colossians 2:6,7,10). “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20). “Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, Elohim will reveal even this to you” (Philipians 3:15).

Applying our mind to the Spirit of the Word of Elohim is wisdom, thus distinguishing the wisdom which is in Messiah Yeshua, the tree of Life, from the wisdom of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This is truer now than ever before, which is why we need the Spirit of Holiness to guide us into all truth.