HE OPENED THEIR UNDERSTANDING

UNDERSTANDING

The disciples of Jesus were as helpless to understand the things Jesus taught them as we are-- until Jesus, by an operation of the SPIRIT, performed a miracle on their minds.

One of the last things Jesus did before ascending to Heaven is recorded in Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, (minds) that they might understand (put together) the scriptures, (a simpler translation, based on Strong's Conc.)

Try as they might, the disciples had not been able to comprehend the scriptures nor the words of Jesus, because they did not have access to, nor see the need of, the operation of the Holy Ghost. Jesus told Peter (Mk 8:33) "Thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men."

So Jesus gave them a "Preview of Pentecost" with a Spiritual Illumination of the scriptures.

Spiritual understanding does not come from education. We educate fools, and produce educated fools… whom we send to the Pulpits or to Congress, with varying degrees of disaster.

Nor does understanding spring from human ingenuity or cleverness. In fact, human intelligence is at a total loss to comprehend Spiritual Truths. Mk 8:21 "How is it that ye do not understand?"

I Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. Mk 9:32 "but they understood not--"

It is only as we humble ourselves in obedience to the Gospel (accepting the Salvation which is offered us through the Blood of Jesus) that we can have access to Spiritual Understanding which reveals the Truth to us.

Hebrews 11:3 THROUGH FAITH WE UNDERSTAND—

Psalms 25:14 The SECRET OF THE LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

Part of the problem with Job and his friends was that they were speaking without the Inspiration of the Almighty. Instead of solving problems, it created a bunch more.

Job 32:8 But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Ghost would be their instructor in Spiritual things.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

There is a COMMUNION, an EDIFICATION, an INSPIRATION, in speaking in the unknown tongue which CAN NOT BE RECEIVED IN ANY OTHER WAY.

Our spirit is made aware of things which our mind can not teach it, for the mind can not know them. When we pray in the unknown tongue, OUR SPIRIT is IN COMMUNION with the SPIRIT WHICH SPOKE THE WORLDS INTO EXISTENCE, and KNOWS EVERYTHING. OUR SPIRITS ARE TAUGHT BY HIS SPIRIT.

I Corinthians 14:2 For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

If we commune with God in the unknown tongue, we soon discover that we KNOW things which we didn't learn. Our Spirit has been taught things which our mind cannot comprehend. We do things without knowing WHY we do them. The prompting of the Spirit.

Job 33:16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,