Inspiration, Revelation and Illumination

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Inspiration, Revelation and Illumination Paul speaking: "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?" (1 Cor. 1-9). Paul addressed them as brethren. They were Christians, who were more fleshly by their appearance then spiritual. For there is hardly a difference between the carnal Christian and a non-Christian. Being carnal Christians hinders and nullifies the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Non-Christians can read the Bible the same as Christians do. And through references of all kinds made available can be quite good at knowing what is written. But to him some things are foolishness to him. The non-Christian does not have the Spirit to teach and to illuminate what is written. The non-Christian can not experience the illumination. Being a carnal Christian also hinders ones self from learning the deeper things of God. Christ says: "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you." (John 16:13-15). The things which the "eye has not seen" nor the "ear has not heard" those things which "have not entered the heart of man" are revealed to us through the Spirit, "for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God." (1 Cor. 2:9,10). These are the things we receive when we read God's Word. God's Word is living. Every time you read, more is given. Even if you read a chapter and think you know it, you can re-read it again and more is given. The common view, so I have heard, is to read the Bible as literal. If I did this, I would see nothing but a time of events in history. My Bible would only remain a couple of inches thick and there would be no more. But allowing the Spirit to teach, the Bible expands. It is like walking from out of the world into the Garden of Eden, a place that is rich of the things of God, a place where God walks in the cool of the day. A place where angels can be seen. As you read God's Word the Spirit teaches you that which is beyond what the eye can see. The Bible was written over a period of 1600 years... some things that were written for the people of one time period may not be for another time period. If we recognize the divisions God makes, then we will see there are no contradictions in the Bible. There is a difference between law and grace, between the body gathered as the bride and the body which are the members of the body of Christ. Today we are in an age of mystery being revealed, the prophets of old and their prophesies are silent until a future time. This is a great feast time. Christ is with us every day. God Bless, Eve