Do not be misinformed. We attain maturity by progressive revelation of FATHER’S Word and we ascend toward maturity step by step. We do not belittle any facet of past revelation but we are to expect a greater understanding of Scripture as we study and ponder The Word as well as allowing The Holy Spirit to reveal additional facets of the Scripture hidden from those who are immature. This is why you can read a passage multiple times and receive something new each time.
FATHER’S Word is constantly expanding as astronomers have observed in the heavens. HIS Word will expand in our lives as well. Jesus made this point in Matthew chapter 13 when He responded to the question from His disciples:
10 Then his disciples approached Jesus and asked, “Why do You always speak to people in these hard-to-understand parables?”
11 He explained, “You’ve been given the intimate experience of insight into the hidden truths and mysteries of the realm of Heaven’s Kingdom, but they have not. 12 For everyone who listens with an open heart will receive progressively more revelation until he has more than enough. But those who don’t listen with an open, teachable heart, even the understanding that they think they have will be taken from them. 13 That’s why I teach the people using parables, because they think they’re looking for truth, yet because their hearts are unteachable, they never discover it. Although they will listen to Me, they never fully perceive the message I speak. 14 The prophecy of Isaiah describes them perfectly:
Although they listen carefully to everything I speak,
they don’t understand a thing I say.
They look and pretend to see,
but the eyes of their hearts are closed.
15 Their minds are dull and slow to perceive,
their ears are plugged and are hard of hearing,
and they have deliberately shut their eyes to the Truth.
Otherwise they would open their eyes to see,
and open their ears to hear,
and open their minds to understand.
Then they would turn to ME
and let me instantly heal them.
If there is ever a time to heed these Words, it is now! There are many who are pretending, dull, slow, hard of hearing, and have shut their eyes to Truth. They mistakenly think they have everything figured out and see no need to change. Jesus says “Listen carefully.” You and I need to change by devoting ourselves to walk according to the progressive revelation found in FATHER’S Word and by constantly listening to The Holy Spirit. We must respond to what The Holy Spirit is directing us to say and do without hesitation. If we hesitate, it is a clear indication of our lack of maturity.
The reality is that if we are not producing fruit, we are denying some aspect of The Word in our lives. This may seem harsh to some but correction often does. I myself embrace correction from The Holy Spirit and simply repent. I know any action or thought independent of The Word is an indefensible position. Jesus is our Standard for Words and actions, no one else! There are many ministers of the Gospel who have become unteachable. Do you think an M.B.A. or PhD behind your name is a guarantee of revelation and fruitfulness? Paul addresses this attitude in when he wrote by The Holy Spirit in Philippians chapter 3:
7 Yet all of the accomplishments that I once took credit for, I’ve now forsaken them and I regard it all as nothing compared to the delight of experiencing Jesus Christ as my Lord! 8 To truly know Him meant letting go of everything from my past and throwing all my boasting on the garbage heap. It’s all like a pile of manure to me now, so that I may be enriched in the reality of knowing Jesus Christ and embrace Him as Lord in all of his greatness.
9 My passion is to be consumed with Him and not clinging to my own “righteousness” based in keeping the written Law. My “righteousness” will be His, based on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ—the very righteousness that comes from God. 10 And I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus more fully and to experience the overflowing power of his resurrection working in me. I will be one with Him in his sufferings and I will be one with Him in his death. 11 Only then will I be able to experience complete oneness with Him in his resurrection from the realm of death.
Knowing Jesus Christ and embracing Him as Lord was Paul’s priority as it is mine today. I trust it is the same with you. Paul also wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians chapter 2:
14 Someone living on an entirely human level rejects the revelations of God’s Spirit, for they make no sense to him. He can’t understand the revelations of the Spirit because they are only discovered by the illumination of the Spirit. 15 Those who live in the Spirit are able to carefully evaluate all things, and they are subject to the scrutiny of no one but GOD.
As we press toward the high mark daily, we will progressively attain more revelation. This revelation will empower us with what has already been deposited in us. Our hearts will be good ground so that the Seed will grow and produce good fruit for the Kingdom.