The great battle taking place today is over the mind of mankind. Whoever wins this battle will determine what happens in our world. This battle is governed through narratives of knowledge. Under this view, knowledge is the ultimate power. That’s why there’s such a focus on knowledge, learning, intellect, and education in our day. We are in an Information Age built upon gaining more and more knowledge. But within the promise of knowledge is a false premise: That knowledge is ultimate power. It’s not. It’s just a mirage. Knowledge is an idol of the mind, a mirage of the devil, that the whole world is pursuing, even the Church, in the attempt to gain power, wealth, fame, pleasure, even immortality, but it only leads to death. Life doesn’t come from knowledge, only death. That’s what I’d like to talk about in this post.
Now, what you read in this post will conflict with nearly everything you’ve been taught, especially those living in America. What have we, most of us, been taught? Get knowledge! Learn. Go to school. Get a college degree. Education is what matters in life. Those who have more education will do better in life. And there’s a kernel of truth in those statements. But, that’s not the whole truth. Yes, the Bible teaches, “Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!” Proverbs 4:5, NASB. Further, the Apostle Paul taught, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God”. 2 Timothy 2:15. King Solomon teaches, “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” Proverbs 23:23. But that’s only part of the truth.
What is the other part of the truth? “If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it.” 1 Corinthians 8:2, Christian Standard Bible. Having knowledge about something doesn’t mean we know it. For example, I may know how a car works, but that doesn’t mean I’m qualified to fix it. Similarly, I may know God heals. I may have even seen God heal people. But that doesn’t mean I know how to see everyone I pray for healed. Jesus “healed them all”. Matthew 12:15. Let that sink in. Now, ask the question: Why don’t we see the sick healed like Jesus. Simply put, we don’t know how to heal the sick, as He knew how to heal the sick. We know…but we really don’t know.
Experiential knowledge is far greater than “book knowledge”. “Book knowledge” can bring us only so far. Experiential knowledge brings us farther; it takes us into a different dimension of knowledge. Beyond that is spiritual knowledge. Knowing. Adam didn’t learn all the names of the animals; he knew them. “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft!” Exodus 31:2-5, NLT. Bezalel became a master craftsman by the anointing of the Spirit of God. And we can too!
"The New Testament is entirely in the Spirit and not the letter."
Yes, there is knowledge to be known beyond what can be known. There’s a realm greater than the natural human mind. That realm is the realm of the Spirit. The issue: Most believers have never been taught how to walk in the Spirit. In fact, the Bible teaches us that, not only should be walk in the Spirit, we should also live in the Spirit, be led by the Spirit, and put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. The New Testament is entirely in the Spirit and not the letter. The Apostle Paul declares, “He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:6, Christian Standard Bible. Everything is to be done by the Holy Spirit.
That’s where the Church has fallen short. We tried to reach Heaven through our own minds. As a result, many have come to worship the mind — the idol of the mind. “I think” and “in my opinion” rule the day. What has that created? An absence of the Spirit. An authority structure that is separated from the Spirit. Coverings of the flesh, not covering of the Spirit. A Church trying to build itself; rather, than recognizing Jesus’s present day authoritative word, “I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18. Jesus Christ is the builder of His Church. He is building His Church in our day. And He will keep building His Church until He comes again. How? By His Spirit.
The idol of the mind must fall. It’s the greatest hindrance to God’s work in our day. We are trying to do in the flesh what can only be accomplished by the Spirit. And if we continue down this errant path, we will miss the moving of the Spirit. Because of this, Jesus is still weeping. Weeping? Yes, as He came to Jerusalem, through tears, and said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me”, Matthew 23:37, NLT, so also, He is weeping over His Church.
The question: Will we invite Him in? Will we cast down the idol of our own minds. Will we “trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding”? Only time will tell. My hope is that, in everything, we will learn to build by the Spirit, know no one after the flesh, and live and move and have our being in Him.
Let us pray!
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