Everyone who is following Jesus is at a different place in their journey. Our walk with Christ is as unique as each one of us. We begin with different pasts and we walk into different destinies. The one thing that is the same for each of us is that God’s ultimate goal is that through the process we grow in our love for God, our ability to receive love from God and become empowered to share that love with the people around us.
Jesus recognized that everyone was not at the same place of understanding in their walk of faith. “With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. ” (Mark 4:33, NIV84) Jesus did not try to force teaching of the kingdom beyond the place the listener could receive.
We must learn to recognize this. We must not condemn others because they are not able to understand some Kingdom truths that we think are obvious.
When I was a new believer I was not ready to understand about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I spent my time learning about the character of Jesus. As I grew, I was not ready to understand about speaking prophetically or about words of knowledge. I spent my time learning about faith and prayer. As I continued to grow, I was not ready to understand supernatural encounters with angels and demons. I spent my time learning about being a servant and becoming a giver. As I have grown I have become ready for more and more from God. And as I hunger, God speaks and teaches me.
What I have learned is that God will always use people to teach me. There will always be people who have an understanding of the Kingdom that I do not yet possess. If I would learn I must become humble like a child. I must be teachable.
And for those who believe that they are mature, they must recognize that they too are always learning and growing. They must recognize that there are people around them who need to learn the Kingdom truths that they possess. Those who are mature must teach with respect for those who lack understanding.
Paul encouraged a young Timothy who was a teacher of Kingdom truth. “Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, ” (2 Timothy 2:25, NIV84) The word oppose does not necessarily mean an active resentment. If you are at a level of understanding of the Kingdom, you will naturally be at odds with someone who does not share yet that understanding. Therefore, the one who is mature must be humble and gentle with those who disagree.
Therefore it seems that if we are all to grow, we must practice humility, gentleness and respect for one another. We cannot learn from others without humility and without humility we close the door to others learning from us.
It is sad to see those who lack understanding condemning those who have understanding. Sometimes the issue deals with spiritual gifts or angels, or manifestations of the Spirit. However, when you condemn the understanding and the revelation of God that someone is walking in, you close the door to your own growth because you are now un-teachable. You lose the ability to grow in Kingdom knowledge.
It is best when we do not understand a particular move of the Spirit to do what others have done and that is to commit the matter to prayer. Mary became a supernatural mother. It had never happened before. She pondered all this in her heart until God gave her understanding. Paul instructed Timothy also to ponder what Paul was saying. “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. ” (2 Timothy 2:7, NIV84)
