Hearing His Voice #72

Only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

1 Corinthians 2:14

We’re trained from a very early age how to acquire knowledge. We try out words and behaviors and learn when we are corrected by our parents. We go to school and try to remember what we are taught before we are tested on it. At each stage of growth, we experiment with relationships and experiences to expand our horizons. We explore, gather information, and go through many trials and many errors to grab the information and skills that are out there and get them into our hearts.

But in matters of the Spirit, learning is a different process. Sure, we still gather external information and internalize it, and becoming disciples involves a lot of observation and a lot of trial and error. But our primary source of understanding is through revelation. In the Spirit, we don’t weigh pros and cons; we discern truth. We don’t develop theories and prove them; we follow God and experience reality as He defines it. We don’t understand in order to believe; we believe in order to understand. Acquiring knowledge in the Spirit is different than acquiring knowledge with our mental faculties.

How do we do that? We have to learn how to “know” through prayer and revelation, not through analysis and deduction. God will say things to us that do not make sense to the human brain—Paul’s discussion of the Cross in 1 Corinthians is a good example. This is why Paul came to Corinth not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power (see 1 Corinthians 2:4). God doesn’t follow human logic. He is above it. We can get above it too if we will ask for revelation from Him and accept the spiritual wisdom He imparts. There is no step-by-step process for this, though human wisdom craves one. We have to trust that if we ask, He will teach us. And if we are depending on the Spirit, we will hear.

Lord, I want to be one who is spiritual—to understand the things of Your Spirit, all that You choose to reveal. Please teach me how.