Programme: School of the Spirit (SOS)
Date: Thursday, 9th March 2023
Transcript Summary
1. We need to hear to see. Hearing is the communication of the basic requirement to convert learning into vision because there are a lot of hearers, but not seers. It is from seeing that we then behold. Many are not strong spiritually because they are only hearers and not seers. It is not easy to make a soul to see, for it is a gradual process. One needs to hear first before such can begin to see. After seeing, we then begin to look upon (1 John 1:1). What we are looking upon is a higher transfer of learning. Hearing, seeing and beholding are different kinds of learning.
2. “For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” (Matt. 13:15). Ears are for hearing while eyes are for sight. There can never be a conversion if these two organs are not working. Both hearing and seeing are for understanding. When someone is blind, a lot of processes has taken place. When blindness moves to the heart, it causes darkened understanding and until light has shone in the heart, there will be no conversion. Until there is a conversion, there would not be an entrance.
3. “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; [17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love…” (Eph. 3:16-17). If Christ is not dwelling in a heart, then something else is dwelling there – vanity. Vanity is a spirit of might of the devil. It is a solid understanding which is called a stronghold in the spirit that holds men down. This stronghold resists God in men’s hearts. It is this stronghold that twists the scriptures. The ability not to receive truth is because there is something in the heart. When the message has gotten to the heart, a soul can make a decision in the light of that message.
4. “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart…” (Eph. 4:18). Blindness is the working of a person in the heart; it is a stature, building and a masonry work of spirits of darkness. This is the realm of the rulers of the darkness of this world. The rulers of the darkness of this world are mights and dominions that became dark. This is why they are called rulers, but principalities and powers are lower. They enforce darkness and ensure everyone is obeying it, but the fountain of flow is coming from a throne of darkness. When we are dealing with spiritual wickedness in high places, we are dealing with a high throne of wickedness.
5. “This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; [2] Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. [3] And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth…” (Gen. 5:1-3). The tree of life in the garden of Eden was not lost but man fell short of the tree. Most of us, before we were born again in our spirits, were not at the full capacity of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in our spirits. The human spirit, through the tree, could only go as far as exemplifying the nature of the old man and not the full life of that tree, after partaking of it. At the New Birth, we were not crucified with the Son of God, but with Christ. This is because the spirit was a type of christ of the devil, but the devil’s desire is to raise the human spirit to become a son of perdition.
6. If every tree on earth came forth from words spoken by a spirit, then trees are spiritual in nature. They come from the production of things that do not appear. Everything that appears comes from a place where they do not appear. Trees that God spake forth are unseen, for the real seed was brought from the realm of the invisible into the realm of the seen. God gave it to flesh so that it can find expression. Satan also is a creator because he brought forth himself and planted his seed in the sphere of Eden. Everything about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil could not go beyond Eternal Life, for it is the immortality of an angel. The immortality of an angel is weaker than that of God. Although it is a kind of immortality, there is a higher form called “only immortality” (1 Tim 6:16).
7. “And had rained down manna upon them to eat, And had given them of the corn of heaven. [25] Man did eat angels' food: He sent them meat to the full.” (Ps. 78:24-25). They ate the corn of heaven in the wilderness. The food of angels was in charge of the economy of their body and that was a sign, in terms of outward miracles. The corn in Ezekiel 36:29 is manna. After everlasting life, it means manna is a reward. Hidden manna is a reward to those who are overcomers. Those who would be saved are the ones who would be called God’s people and He would be their God. When He becomes their God, He will call for the corn. The corn will come in increase from eternity because it must be eaten to the full.
8. “And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.” (Ezek. 36:30). There is one fruit, one tree and one corn in the field. The field is the tree; it is the realm of eternity in the east of Eden. We are to eat both the corn and the fruit of the tree. The corn and the tree are different. The tree is the deathlessness of Eternal Life. The flow of Eternal Life is in manifestation of dominion; it is the reigning life of God; it is the life of the throne. The first fruit of the east is the bread, that is, the corn, which is the hidden manna. Then, the next meal of the land is the tree of life. The same life that would grow the tree is the same life that would grow the corn.
9. The produce of the field, the climate of, and the material for growing those two things (corn and tree) in the land of the east is light and water, that is, word and spirit. Without these two instruments, one cannot reign in life; without them, one cannot have Eternal Life. The water of life and light of life are both required to reign in life. The water needs to spring up into everlasting life (John 4:14) in order to have its full expression. When one drinks the living water without it springing, such would not have access to everlasting life. The water in itself is not the end, for there is something the water needs to do to enable one have everlasting life. The water needs light, which is necessary to grow what should be an edible life. As such, both the tree and the corn need nourishment, which is why plants need light for development and water for nourishment. When the corn is developed, it becomes a full corn.
10. Without Eternal Life, one cannot know the importance of the tree of life. To keep the way of the tree of life, the sword of the spirit which is the word of God, is needed (Eph. 6:17). This is not just the word of God as light, but the word of God as spirit. To hold the sword of the spirit is to hold the word of God. As such, the flaming sword or the burning sword is the word of Eternal Life which comes from the bread of Eternal Life. Bread is sword. The bread of Gideon which tumbled into the camp of the Midianites was referred to as a sword (Judg. 7:13-14). Hence, bread and sword are synonymous. Without the sword, the word cannot be divided and without the sword, the bread cannot be divided.
11. “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” (Rev. 22:5). The light will lead them into what would make them reign. It is impossible to reign with only light, for life is needed as well. The life itself is the food that one eats. Without eating food, one cannot reign. Thus, the light helps to shed understanding to eat bread. It is the light that would develop the corn and make it ready for food. It is actually a vegetation. Paradise is a garden.
12. “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” (1 Tim. 6:16). It is the King of kings that is eternal. There is an immortality that dwells in light and without that light, no one can approach immortality. This is who Jesus is and we would see Him until we be like Him. Many men would carry this life. We must have this light that would culture, discipline and prune us for immortality. This is so that when we attain immortality, we would carry it with all the wisdom and care and all of its meekness and fear.
Blessings!