We are called to discern the Spiritual!
Lack of discernment promotes unbelief. You can be 18 inches from spiritual breakthrough and not know it. Jesus’ brothers lived within 18 inches of Him and did not realize that He was the Son of GOD!
The Beloved Disciple wrote by The Holy Spirit in John chapter 7:
1 After this Jesus traveled extensively throughout the province of Galilee, but He avoided the province of Judea, for He knew the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem were plotting to have him killed.
2 Now the annual Feast of Tabernacles was approaching.
3 So Jesus’ brothers came to advise Him, saying, “Why don’t You leave the countryside villages and go to Judea where the crowds are, so that Your followers can see your miracles?
4 No one can see what You’re doing here in the backwoods of Galilee. How do You expect to be successful and famous if You do all these things in secret? Now is Your time—go to Jerusalem, come out of hiding, and show the world who You are!”
5 His brothers were pushing Him, even though they didn’t yet believe in Him as the Savior.
Jesus spent 30 years with no miracles to confirm Him being the Savior. His mom knew but His brothers didn’t.
There are many mysteries in Scripture that we can’t explain. Some will attempt to give an answer for something that GOD is not answering. Death of loved ones often falls into this category. Rather than come up with some opinion, we are to minister Love to those who are grieving and not add our own opinions to the cause of death. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know why.” Asking FATHER why doesn’t mean HE will give you an answer.
We are to value mystery as much as we value revelation. Mystery is where your trust is proven. The life of faith and the life of trust is more than believing for a breakthrough. Sometimes a life of faith is to endure something you can’t explain and don’t have any control over. Both facets of that kind of faith are essential in moving toward full spiritual maturity.
Jesus’ brothers grew up with Him and until the age of 30, there was no miracle demonstration. His brothers were making sarcastic comments when telling Him to go to Judea because they didn’t believe that He is who mom knew He was. His brothers knew Him as the carpenter’s son, not the Savior of the world. His brothers were accusing Jesus of seeking to be famous. They were provoking Him to go to Judea where His life would be threatened.
Matthew recorded by The Holy Spirit in Luke chapter 1:
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.”
Mary also waited 30 years for the Word of THE LORD to come to full fruition. Her undeniable sign was that she was a virgin giving birth… a miracle.
It is possible to be very familiar with Him but so familiar that you no longer know Him as GOD. That realm of familiarity has cost the people of GOD all through history, including Nazareth as well as today. They did not value what GOD valued.
Jesus’ brothers had been close to Him their entire life but had no discernment that Jesus is the firstborn Son of GOD. They completely missed it, the greatest revelation that He is the Son of GOD! They were within 18 inches of this revelation but were totally oblivious to Who was before them.
When we manifest the power and authority given to us be GOD, there will be those who rely on the past realm of familiarity and will be unable to discern the spiritual. It will be their loss.