1 Corinthians 2:12-15 says, “Now we have
received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God,
that we might know the things freely given to us by God, but a natural
man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are
foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are
spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things,
yet he himself is appraised by no man.”
Let’s look at the word translated here as
“appraised”. This is what the Strong’s says: 350 anakrinw
anakrino {an-ak-ree'-no} AV - examine 6, judge 6, ask question 2,
search 1, discern 1; 16 1) Examine or judge 1a) To investigate,
examine, inquire into, scrutinize, sift, question 1a1) Specifically in
a forensic sense of a judge to hold an investigation
Anyone, even those who do not know God, who
has the gift of teaching can teach the Bible as well as any book
written by man. The problem is that there will be no understanding of
the Word, therefore it will not be accepted unless those who teach it
and those who are being taught are spiritual people. The carnal mind
cannot understand and does not accept that which God is now doing.
Jesus said in John 14:15-17, "If you
love Me, you will keep My commandments. "And I will ask the
Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you
forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive,
because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because
He abides with you, and will be in you.”
So many times in the Church the religious
and/or carnal mind attempts to explain or even resist what the Spirit
is doing. That is impossible while in the flesh.
Even Jesus stated that the world cannot
receive the Spirit of truth because it does not know Him. The whole
point of this subject is that unless we are first “in the Spirit”,
we will make a mess of that which God is desiring the Church to
accomplish. We must first insure that Christ is formed in the Church
and that the people of God have a deep, spiritual walk with Him. Far
too often we seem to run with the most current “thing” God is
doing without first having an understanding of it.
James 3:13-16 says, “Who among you is
wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in
the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish
ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the
truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is
earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition
exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.”
The main reason there is disorder in the
Church is that we do not have an understanding of that which God is
doing and saying. The Catholics are unified. The Mormons are unified.
The Protestants are fractured and divided. Even the Pentecostals, who
claim to be “prophetic”, are fractured in their thinking of that
which God is doing and saying today. No wonder there are so many
different thoughts on this “apostolic reformation”. No wonder it
does not seem to be changing (reforming) the Church.
We must get rid of all carnal and religious
understanding of what God is demanding today and pray for the wisdom
which comes from above. I highly recommend that all of you who read
this letter contact Apostle Charles Townes (website address is www.townes.org/)
and order his recent teaching tape on the subject of “Wisdom”.
God is NOT double minded. He speaks the same
doctrine to all. His governmental kingdom principles are the same no
matter with whom He is speaking. We must get to the place of doctrinal
integrity that will bring us into the unity that is required to effect
His reformation of His Church.
First things first! We must all repent and
lead our people into a deeper, more relevant, genuine relationship
with the Lord. We must come out of religion and into a deep spiritual
relationship with Jesus. This will become obvious when our priorities
are submitted to His order. The things of the Kingdom will be at the
top of our priorities and spiritual battles will be won because we
will possess the wisdom of God.
The first scripture in this letter gives us
the clue. The natural (carnal) man cannot understand or accept what
God is doing today. The carnal, religious spirit will accept what God
has done in the past but will not accept what He is currently doing.
The definition of a true apostolic people is: Those people who are
walking in (living) all currently restored truth!
We can accomplish this because He has
ordained it so! What a day it will be when all who are baptized in
Holy Spirit come into unity of spirit, unity of faith, and unity of
Kingdom government.
It's a Kingdom thing!
Apostle Richard
