Got Spiritual Perception?

Got Spiritual Perception?

It is very important in life to get the right perspective. Only then can we gain the right perception. Just think of the story of David and Goliath. The Isralites all thought “Goliath is so big we can never kill him.” But David thought “The giant is so big I can’t miss.”

We also need to discern whose perception we trust. The world tries to convince us that only the knowledge that can be perceived through five senses – and hence scientifically proved – is right. But then we miss the whole spiritual realm! And that’s exactly why the world thinks Jesus as a son of a carpenter and nothing more: When Jesus entered public life he was about thirty years old, the son (in public perception) of Joseph..(Luke 3:24, MSG, emphasis added).

The public perception has no clue about what God’s eternal plan is. God’s wisdom is different. It is mysterious and deep. It’s not hip and it’s not (only) for smart, wealthy, and famous. It’s available for everyone. Anyone who searches God will be blessed by spiritual perception. What a glorious gift from God!

We, of course, have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but it’s not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out-of-date in a year or so. God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don’t find it lying around on the surface. It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest—what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. The experts of our day haven’t a clue about what this eternal plan is. If they had, they wouldn’t have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross. That’s why we have this Scripture text:
   No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this,
   Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—
   What God has arranged for those who love him.
But you’ve seen and heard it because God by his Spirit has brought it all out into the open before you. (1 Cor. 2: 6-9, MSG, emphasis added)

The Holy Spirit opens up the Bible for us. The Holy Spirit prays through us. The Holy Spirit warns us, guides us, enables us to discern and make wise choices. When the Holy Spirit lives in us we gain greater spiritual perceptiveness day by day. The more time we spend in the presence of God listening to him and then putting God’s wisdom in practice, the more spiritually perceptive we become.

The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God planned all along. Who ever knows what you’re thinking and planning except you yourself? The same with God—except that he not only knows what he’s thinking, but he lets us in on it. God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that he is giving us. We don’t have to rely on the world’s guesses and opinions. We didn’t learn this by reading books or going to school; we learned it from God, who taught us person-to-person through Jesus, and we’re passing it on to you in the same firsthand, personal way. (1 Cor. 2: 10-13, MSG)

We don’t need to rely on the world’s knowledge and perception. Because of Jesus we can go directly to God and ask whatever it is that we need to know. If nothing else, ask for a greater understanding of faith. God will be delighted to answer you. The more time we spend in God’s presence, the more we start to understand the grandness of God’s master plan and our part in it.

The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can’t receive the gifts of God’s Spirit. There’s no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God’s Spirit is doing, and can’t be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah’s question, “Is there anyone around who knows God’s Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?” has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ’s Spirit. (1 Cor. 2: 14-16, MSG)

The world does not see God and his grace the same way God’s children do. They don’t have spiritual perceptiveness. God’s salvation plan seems like so much silliness and foolishness to them. And, if you think of it, it does sound crazy. Crazily wonderful, don’t you think? God wants to have a loving relationship with each one of us! God sent his only son to die on the cross for us. And by resurrecting Jesus on the third day he won victory over death and darkness. God offers the same to us. We can be made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ. By grace we are made God’s children. By the Holy Spirit we are given spiritual perception to understand the divine plan for us and live in God’s grace. How crazily wonderful! Thank you, Jesus!

 

Gracious God,
We thank you and praise you
for your divine wisdom and amazing salvation plan!
Thank you for fighting for us!
Forgive us our sins, doubts, and unfaithfulness.
Give us your Spirit to guide us clearly.
Give us grater spiritual perceptiveness.
Give us anything we need to serve you better.
Prune as you see fit.
Finish your work in us!
May Thy will be done!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Giving thanks today for

#15 God’s sovereignity
#16 the Holy Spirit working in us
#17 the prayer answering God
#18 always sufficient God’s grace
#19 the beauty of God’s plan
#20 spiritual perceptiveness
#21 joie de vivre

Q4U: What do you think of spiritual perception?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you by God’s grace plunge into greater depths of God’s grace!

Image courtesy of Rich Aguilar. Linking up with Sharing His Beauty &

Bloggers: note a prayer blog hop “Weekend Prayer Wall” at Flowing Faith every weekend!

4 thoughts on “Got Spiritual Perception?

  1. Hello dear Marie-Anna:)  I know from past experience that the more in depth I get into God’s Word, the closer I am in tune with the Blessed Holy Spirit—-and thus, more perceptive of what life is all about, what He wants me to do from day to day.  This was such a meaningful post, and points all who read it to the Savior, Jesus Christ.  Thank you so much 🙂

  2. I’m so thankful that we don’t have to rely on the world’s knowledge and perception!  True wisdom is in the Lord!  He gives us all the answers in His Book and He’ll never steer us the wrong way!

    Blessings, Joan

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RSS
Follow by Email