Receiving from the Lord.

How does God break through to us?
How does God impart -- give -- grant -- deliver to our hearts His wisdom, which is obviously too much for man?
How can feeble man's mind and weak man's heart grasp and embrace the deep things of God?

Whether we articulate our questions in these ways, or whether you are more like me and say, "What's up with this, Lord?" we have searching hearts that often disconnect from the search in sheer frustration.

Take heart...He will speak.

Receive His word:

Picture by Cristina Adams. 

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:6-16 ESV)

Let me encourage you to humble your heart to this counsel the Lord has given me today.

1. God makes His ways / truth known through the Spirit. Verse 10-11 say "...these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God." Wow. Too often, we feel out of control, so the last thing we want to give up is what little control we imagine we've gained. But, for the Spirit to Lord Himself over us, He demands surrender. It is in surrender that what the Spirit has searched and discovered is revealed to us. And, dear friend, look at what The Spirit desires to deliver to you and I today: no eye has seen it. No ear has heard it. No heart has imagined it. What does God desire to deliver that man cannot even imagine? I'll tell you: it's the Lord of Glory; that Jesus! Even as man beheld Him in the flesh, their hearts would not receive Him and their minds failed to understand Him. They even crucified Him. But the Spirit wants to deliver that wondrous Jesus to you and me. The Spirit wants us to know something MORE than our best imaginations have ever considered. And, Father's way is to teach us through the Spirit, to reveal this beauty to us and capture our heart with Jesus. As frightening as it feels, the Spirit beckons our surrender that we may indeed be prepared for His delivery.

2. God gives more of Himself to those who love Him. Verse 9 tells us that He is delivering this deeper and deeper truth of Christ to those who love Him. Who goes deeper? That one that loves. Who has more truth opened upon them? That one that loves. Who is trusted with more of the riches of heaven that are in Christ Jesus? The one that loves. When some little talent comes to our hands and we are wise to love God with it, He makes room for more...more of Himself, more for us to love, more ability to love, more reason to love, more depth of love. When we've been faithful in the little, He gives the increase. Shaken down, pressed and full. Friend, we don't have to know it all to love God. We love Him simply and humbly with what we know of Him.

3. The deeper we go, the deeper we go. The natural man sees a growing spirituality as increasingly futile; even "folly." The spiritual man understands the growing spirituality as the Spirit's very tool for making room for more of Jesus. That's His way. He casts out the useless, that He might be found useful in us more and more. Under the wonderful, powerful influence of the Holy Spirit the deeper insights into God open to us more and more. It's not by our education. It's not by our mental prowess. The natural person does not accept the things of God. Some even rage against the very God they claim does not exist. But, the spiritual person knows Him like oxygen. And, the deeper we go, the deeper go.

Now, then, I am left with a beautiful truth: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13 ESV)

Wow...

There is so much I feel confounded by. There is so much God desires to deliver to me. I see His way! I desire Him!

My prayer: Lord, help me love you with what little I know and have and can do. I want to love You more! Receive the offering of my self and my love, Lord God. I have faith; give me more. I believe; help my unbelief. Father, more and more, give to me the deepening, pushing in, invasive and blessed Spirit. My searching, thirsty heart has drank of You. I am satisfied in You, and I want more. Lord, by your Spirit, give me more of You than I even dare to imagine! In Jesus, I humbly ask these things; Amen.