To Know

    "To you it has been given to know the mysteries (secrets or hidden truths) of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables." Luke 8:10

     As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ our spiritual eyes have been opened to the unfathomable mysteries of God! "To know" is part of our inheritance in Christ. Jesus said that to the rest or to the lost it is given in parables, a simple story used to illustrate a spiritual lesson.

    Imagine the possibilities of knowing the mysteries of God's kingdom, which includes the entire universe! How He created it, all of mankind, the animals and everything that exists. To us it has been opened, but to the world their eyes are shut to the supernatural works, miracles and secrets of God!

    Although this great blessing is given to us who believe, many don't take advantage of this ability to see into the supernatural realm because of apathy or just downright laziness! Jesus said, "Seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened, ask and it will be given." There are no limitations to the spiritual gift of knowing! 

     Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer (debater) of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the Message preached to save those who believe. I Corinthians 1:20,21

 WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?

     When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Phillipi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" Matthew 16:13

     Jesus was testing His disciples concerning their discernment of spiritual revelation and who He in fact was! They didn't have a clue, because they were relying on what men said and not the Holy Spirit.

    Peter on the other hand said, "You are the Christ, (anointed One) Son of the living God." Jesus was amazed at Peter's statement and proceeded to say to him, "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven." Jesus said that on this rock (not Peter) I will build My church, meaning that His followers would have revelation knowledge of spiritual things and not the wisdom of man!

    Many today, including some main-line denominations think that Jesus was saying that Peter was the rock but in fact He was saying that revelation knowledge, directly from the throne of God would be the foundation of His church!

     "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on the earth will be loosed in Heaven." Matthew 16:19

BE STILL AND KNOW

     Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, (wicked) nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law (word) of the Lord and in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1,2

     This is one of the keys of the kingdom that Jesus spoke of, meditating on the word of God! The Hebrew word for meditate is hagah, a primary root meaning to murmur or to ponder. In other words when we read a scripture, we ponder its meaning and spiritual revelation to us and mutter to ourselves what it means.

    To meditate is like chewing a prime cut of meat, savoring its flavor until the taste is gone. It is not about quantity but the quality of what you retain of the scripture and its revelation to you. When I was just beginning my walk with God over forty years ago my pastor taught me these valuable keys in receiving revelation from the word. He also taught me to "Journal the Journey," to write down what God is saying so that in time of need it will speak comfort and peace to your spirit.

    In Psalm 46:10 the scripture tells us: "Be still and know that I am God." In other words when you begin to seek God, be quiet, find a daily time to be still before Him so that all the worries and cares of this world are drowned out by the silence of God's holy presence. Then and only then can you hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit who gives you living water so that you can grow in the grace of God!

     He shall be a tree planted by the river of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:3

 Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
   Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ