Spiritual Radar
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February 18, 2009"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, would give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know..." Ephesians 1:17-18 The word "understanding" is the Greek word, "dianoia". It is the same word translated as "mind" or "imagination" in other Scriptures. When Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind", the Greek word used for "mind" was "dianoia". Hebrews 8:10 says, "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts:" Again, this is "dianoia", the emotionally oriented, right side of the brain that "sees". Then there is the logic oriented, left side of the brain that reasons and rationalizes, considers and reckons, hypothesizes and conjectures. Mary, the mother of Jesus responded that way when Gabriel appeared to her and told her, she (a virgin) would conceive a son who would be the Messiah. Luke 1:29 says "she was troubled at his saying, and considered in her mind what manner of greeting this should be." The word used for "mind" here is "dialogizomai". It's where we get the word "logic" from. What Gabriel told her troubled her logic. It went contrary to reasoning. OK. Sorry for the Greek lesson as scant as it was. I want you to understand that God uses the eyes of your understanding, the eyes of your imagination to communicate spiritual "rhema" truth to you. The written word, the logos, is the basis of logic, but the living, fresh breathed word is the basis of revelation. We need both. The logos keeps us from error and the rhema reveals the fullness of the logos and puts it in the now. The eyes of your understanding, when enlightened are like spiritual radar. They allow you to see what you otherwise would not. When I get up long before daybreak and seek the Lord, I cannot see much outside my window. I need light to see the trees, the birds, the lake across the street, etc. Well God has given you a second set of eyes that are just as capable of seeing as your physical eyes. Like your natural eyes, they need enlightenment to see correctly. What is the source of that light? The spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus Christ! Wisdom is a Spirit. Revelation is a Spirit. They are manifestations of Christ that reveal who He is. When you know Him, you begin to discover what He has in store for you, what He has given you to bring it about and the power available to manifest or to bring into the present, what is still in the future. Friends, open your spiritual eyes, the eyes of your understanding, the eyes of your imagination that has been enlightened by the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. You say... How do I do that? Well, how do you imagine anything? When you imagine what it will be like in the rainforest for instance, you see things with the eyes of your understanding or the eyes of your imagination or the right side of your brain if you will, that you have never seen with your natural eyes. Spend enough time imagining that and you will draw that experience into the present. But that is for another blog. Ask God to give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ so you can see, so you can begin to imagine some of the things He has prepared for you to walk in. I should stop now. I love you guys!
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Good Morning Michael,
Once again a wonderful post with so much value. It is this deep revelation and spiritual growth that is so needed right now. Thank you for your wisdom, insight, and the courage to share. One question though; why stop now?? :-)
Returned Love in Christ, our All in All.
Bonnie
Bonnie at 9:10am EST - February 18, 2009
Michael,
Good stuff!
Our \"seeing\" is involved in our believing. Not as we walk by our natural sight, but rather as we walk by faith. The eyes of our understanding are the eyes of our faith.
In the midst of these light \"afflictions\" our natural eyes and senses are being bombarded with in this hour, it's critical that we \"look not at those things that can be seen, but rather at those things that cannot be seen. For what is seen (and is being seen especially say, in the economic circles for instance) is temporal (subject to change) but those things we are able to see with those other eyes you alluded too, they are eternal, quickened to us by the Eternal One. And by focusng on that \"seeing\" we can usher in and bring about positive change into our lives resulting in His glory being revealed in all our affairs!
The world without faith is fond of saying: I'll believe it when I see it!\" For we believers, as we \"see\" it within by faith, this constitutes our believing and through the process of that \"seeing\", we then will see that which we have been looking at on the inside of us- on the outside of us in our lives!
And to think that christian visualization was an oxymoron! Ha. It's not new age, it's old Bible! Thanks for your insights.
Mitch
Mitch at 9:26am EST - February 18, 2009
Michael,
Thanks for spending the time studying and sharing on this subject. As you and I have discussed before, I have prayed through that Ephesians 1:17ff passage for myself and for others for many years. It's always a delight to uncover another layer of meaning in it, since I believe it to be a window into some of the greatest treasures God has given us for our journey here.
Enjoying this very much!
Blessings,
David
David G. Johnson at 10:14am EST - February 18, 2009
I have been living in Ephesians this month so this is very timely. I imagine.. therefore I am!
Beverlydru at 11:53am EST - February 18, 2009
We are in a focused study on the Holy Spirit, and all input in this regard is from Him. Thank you for ministry.
God Bless,
Steve
Dr. Steve Matthew at 11:58am EST - February 18, 2009
Good morning Michael,
I am always so blessed whenever I receive these messages from your heart that God has given you to share. I have had this teaching before and know the value of it. For this kind of understanding of God, and to hear Him, you must know Him intimately, as I can tell you do. Thank you for bringing this teaching to the body of Christ, especially those in a Marketplace Ministry, for there are many in search of it. It is not found everywhere, only where people truly desire Him, strongly desire to Dwell in His Presence, to Abide with Him. It points us in the only direction we need to go, closer to Him.
Your words paint a picture that brings a clear understanding of how to get close to Him, how to hear Him, for He does want to speak to our hearts. He is a relational God, not a God far away. He showed Himself to us as Emanuel, God with us and then sent the Holy Spirit . . . God in us!
Thank you for your ministry to us who are learning what a Marketplace Ministry is all about.
Thank you.
Gail at 1:18pm EST - February 18, 2009
This reminded and cofirmed the topic of \"Image\". That we are made
in His image. How our imagination relates to that, and what we \"image\"or see in our minds eye effects our life. The power to create an image.
There is a great book our church had us read that has the potential to
change peoples lives. It is \"What's On Your Mind\" by Christian Author
Merlin R. Carothers. www.merlincarothers.com
In it he gives insight to scriptures that pertain to this subject and
applying saturating your mind with the Bible verses renews the mind to be
pure in heart.
It is one of those simple timeless resources, yet it requires saturating your
mind with the scriptures.
Thank you for your article!
Mrs. Day
Phoenix First Assembly
Robin Day at 1:27pm EST - February 18, 2009
Thanks Michael,
I enjoyed the lesson and helped me know the Holy Spirit is leading me in the way I should go after reading your Rainforest Book.
Doug Lee at 2:23pm EST - February 18, 2009
Your encouragement is a blessing Michael - THANKYOU!! Just what I needed to hear - again!! Blessings from Australia!
Marita at 10:49pm EST - February 18, 2009
thank you for this explanation. the lord has ben opening my eyes and I who was once logical some one called right brain. its brilliant because now I can say yes -the eyes of my understanding is being opened. Now i can pray better for my logical friends too. Its SOO Good the mail Micheal - I love it and have gotten my friends on it too -so thanks be to God for this help and for you too .
sange at 11:28pm EST - February 18, 2009
Dear Michael,
Our company has started training under the materials I purchased from \"Selling Among Wolves\". More than anything right now it is giving my husband and I clearer vision of what the Lord has called our custom home building company to and has given us more unity. Recently the Lord has told me; \"If you can see it you can have it.\" This is more than mustering something in our fantasy thinking, as you know well. This is about soaking in His presence and finding His vision for you, your family, business, church, whatever He has called you to. But our field of impact seldom falls on us. We must be so aligned with His purposes, by seeing them, that we are an active, knowing partner in getting those visions operating in the natural.
thanks for your ministry to us and to our business.
Tamara Kuchera
Tamara Kuchera at 2:29pm EST - February 19, 2009
I really enjoyed this email. Thru this economic turmoil God has took me down a level or two so I would look up to Him again. Thru the past few months I have really been in some deep study and meditation with His word and seeking guidence from Him. Your thoughts help assure me that I am not overthinking His word and trying to make it what I want it to say. Proverbs 11:14 says that counsellors in multititude provide safety. I know that when the Spirit leads you in study, and several are studying the same topic, you generally have the same conclusion at the end. (Safety) They might not all be alike but everyone will have a same idea on the situation. Your study and revelation and mine have been the same at the end. Not always the same scripture and revelation but the same ending. Im encouraged to know that we are on the same page and that further strengthens my faith and my walk with Jesus. Thank you for your time in this blog. It means alot to a whole lot of people.
Jeremy Staton at 3:15pm EST - February 19, 2009
This is a true \"eye opener\" ....
Thank you Michael..........you are simply AMAZING and this is very, very , timely in my life.
This is a study sooooo desperately need NOW..
Thank you again.
Blessings to you & your family and expect miracles now !!!
paula at 12:28pm EST - February 21, 2009
That is so awesome!! I've heard wonderful teaching on this scripture, but by no means have I almost come to tears after having done such. I am now so eager to hear and see what Holy Spirit has to say and show me so I experience my future in my present....that is so AWESOME!! I pray the blessings and Favor of God to remain constant in and on your life!
Brigitte Andrews at 2:02pm EST - February 24, 2009