Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9
Claiming to be wise, they became fools, Romans 1:22
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. Romans 12:3
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
The spiritual realm is MORE complex than this limited dimensional realm we can currently experience. Yet our pride sets in and we think we know what reality is … but God sees our immaturity and foolishness. Truly scripture unless revealed by the Holy Spirit to the reader is only a guessing game. Theologians utilize formulaic methods on both ancient and modern languages to attempt to decipher the meaning of the portion of scripture, which is at best the most elementary method of understanding of spiritual things that are already beyond our intellectual understanding. For those methods are built on academic seminarian types of bench marks that are required from anyone trying to publish their work. So academics are required to build upon someone else’s work while attempting to espouse a new perspective. From this type of work there have spawned all sorts of doctrines. The Pharisees were especially good at this practice.
But those who are spiritually astute to personal prophetic experiences know that language is not a complete mode of explanation. So much is beyond what the prophet can describe or put into words, and it is truly difficult and frustrating trying to explain what you have experienced in a spiritual realm. So much is a mixture of senses, and spiritual ‘knowing’, and visual input that is beyond what has been experienced before. So the prophet or individual has to explain the best they know how, which is always WAY short of the actual experience. Many of those who have experienced an NDE (near death experience) know this struggle to explain and put into words things they have had no reference before to understand.
Here in lies the dilemma – who do we trust and believe when listening to someone teaching from the scriptures? Jesus even at a young age was astounding the scriptural ‘experts’ of His day of His understanding of the scriptures. .
After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. Luke 2:46-47
And Paul suggests the requirements for those who consider themselves ‘spiritual’ or a ‘prophet’.
If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:37-39
So much can help when a person begins to understand and recognize the work and Voice of the Holy Spirit within them. That indwelling Presence of God within our minds and hearts should be something we all work at keeping forefront in our lives. Do we interact with the Holy Spirit? How do we learn how to do that regularly? How do we learn to discern His Voice above all others? Is the Holy Spirit helping you understand the scriptures you are reading and researching?
The spiritual realms are vast and mostly mysterious to us. Many scientists dismiss spiritual things — yet will readily agree that there are multiple dimensions because of math. The cognitive dissonance which is so rife in our current culture has greatly permeated the academic institutions.
All of the ‘equipping of the saints’ found in Ephesians 4:11-12 which are the ‘gifts’ to the ekklesia needs to be done with great humility and be a constant referral to the main Teacher which is the Holy Spirit Himself. So many who gather great ‘followings’ are very susceptible to seeing that ‘success’ as confirmation of God’s approval and that can easily lead to falling for temptation. Pride can easily slip into those who are always lifted up as great, or wonderful, or talented by the audiences and masses. But the Kingdom of Heaven is literally the opposite of this realm.
But many who are first will be last, and the last first. Matthew 19:30
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4
All one has to do is read the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) from Jesus and you know His wisdom is not earthly in origin.
I say all of this so that we should always go to the Holy Spirit for confirmation and His advice as to what we should ‘take in’ (from teachers / spiritual leaders / pastors / prophets / evangelists / etc) and allow to shape our understanding. Too many add to their intellect without really gaining understanding from the Holy Spirit first .. which is exactly what the Pharisees did. Intelligence and knowledge without the Holy Spirit will lead to false teaching and wrong understanding.
In actuality …the spiritual realm is more ‘real’ than what we currently know and experience. We are VERY limited in our scope of sensory information and knowledge. The more I learn from the Holy Spirit …the more I know even less. True spiritual maturity is completely and fully humble in nature. Not false humility — but one of a beginning of true understanding of the majesty and mystery of God and His ways.
What is the Holy Spirit teaching you? Is He working on your character / inner person / soul? Or are you just running from one teacher to the next … looking for that ‘word’ that will hopefully give you what you feel you need? The BEST spiritual Source is the Holy Spirit. Go to Him. Ask Him.