The Benefit of the Indwelling Spirit

The ability to receive and know the things of God is not attained through the schools, for many who are unlearned possess it while many who are learned do not possess it. It is an ability which is born of the indwelling Spirit. For this reason the Spirit had been given to those who are saved that they might know the things which are freely given to them of God. Yet among Christians there are some who are under limitations because of their carnality. They are unable to receive “meat” because of carnality, rather than ignorance. He That is Spiritual, L. S. Chafer.

In this age of advanced knowledge and Google, we have the information we seek at our fingertips within a few seconds. We can learn anything quickly if we differ in opinion and prove it with our reference to a website or referenced page. This can be used for good to help inform ourselves or others; or it can become bad depending on the attitude of the person and abuse the source. We can be right with the wrong attitude about proving it, or we can use it to help.

This is not true however with the Word of God. You see from early on in our history, men of learning were sought out for truth. Those who were ignorant to truth or learning had to seek out someone who could give them the information they sought. Even though the information was sought, those who gave the information or learning to the unlearned often used it with the wrong motive to manipulate those of unlearned backgrounds.

With the things of God, as stated by Chafer, human insight and learning can become a barrier to things of God. It doesn’t matter how smart you are, if the Spirit of God doesn’t reveal His truth, you don’t have wisdom. I think this is why many of the wisest Christian men I know never went to seminary. They have encountered God on such deep personal levels as He spoke to them that nothing compares in the earthly realm. One man I have deep respect in his knowledge of the Bible will often claim to me that he is a dumb North Florida redneck; when in fact his knowledge surpasses men who have doctoral degrees, including myself. This obviously doesn’t include those men of God who have seminary degrees who are in tune to the deep things of God revealed by the indwelling Spirit of God.

The danger Sperry mentions is when men become so carnal, they unable to receive “meat” because of their carnality. They would rather have what the world offers rather than sacrificing time to hear from God. This nullifies the work they seek because of their unwillingness to hear the things of God, or through their human efforts to manufacture something that appears to be spiritual in nature. All of us have tried it at one time or another and deep within ourselves we know it is a counterfeit.

Take the time today to ask the Lord to forgive your waywardness and bring you into the indwelling Spirit’s presence once again so that we can hear the “deep things of God.” Spend the time to hear from your Heavenly Father. It will be worth the time you set aside!