For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:12
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. 1 Corinthians 2:14
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13
How does one really attain / gain spiritual knowledge?
Real spiritual knowledge is only gained one way …revelation. And we can never get this knowledge of God by reading, listening to podcasts or sermons, or by attending meetings. Sure you may understand it all by mental apprehension, knowing the terms and the verses, and use them .. but what about the actual dynamic of the knowledge? Is the knowledge you have alive beyond worldly methods and resources with a power that isn’t represented through any other organization or earthly means? Do we know God by this thing by reason or by a personal inward revelation on the subject?
Also then one must deal with the fact that revelation usually comes by the way of pain. At first you might see the beauty of it and even exclaim so and talk about it, but then you go down with this truth into the vortex of agony to the very bottom. Then the question comes …will this truth / revelation work here at the bottom / end of myself? When all the flesh elements and self has been dealt with, and you hold on to the revealed truth with the Lord, and tested it in the most harsh way — and then it comes out that this thing has become you, and then you can go to others and say, “I know – I know this thing, and God is faithful, I know the victory.” Now you have a real emphasis on your knowledge and all the doubt in you has been removed because you worked it out in the depths and proved it, … and by the very pain of it .. it has been proved within you.
By your scars you will know it.
Just know if your receive any real revelation / spiritual knowledge .. it will be tested .. by pain. Many exclaim great spiritual knowledge but don’t have the scars to prove it.
Scars and life experience is .. worth something. Don’t be quick to accept things without testing them. Same goes for people. Do your mentors or spiritual leaders have the scars to prove what they are saying / teaching? Are you close enough and spent long enough time with to them to be able to tell whether they are telling the truth or not? If the fruit of their teaching has actually been produced by them, or have they just usurped it from someone else?