John 16:12 English Standard Version (ESV) “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 

Are we ready to hear the truth now?

Before we answer that question let us remember Saul of Tarsus who became the apostle Paul.

Philippians 3:3-7 English Standard Version (ESV)

³ For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— ⁴ though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. ⁷ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Gamaliel was Saul’s teacher, a man respected by all the Jews of his time. He was the leading authority when it came to Jewish Law and Saul was his prized student. Paul had to give up more than just his relationship, title, identity, and his work to follow Christ. He had to give up his opinion.

We study under learned men, men with titles, doctorates, followings, reputations, books and letters explaining what God has written. We have great libraries filled with opinions. We also have great libraries filled with error, false teachings and heresies. The father of lies has as much work published on his behalf as does the works of honest godly men.

Now comes the hard question. Do we recognize the truth when we hear it?

Titus 3:5 English Standard Version (ESV)  he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 

Regeneration and renewal of our bodies and our minds. The mind is flesh and subject to decay.

John 16:12-13 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹² “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

What was true of Jesus disciples then is true for us now. There are things we are not ready to hear. The Holy Spirit will only reveal that which He is told to speak to us. He responds to the will of God and not our demands.

So this comes down to what the Father holds more important, intellect or relationship. He lost Adam and Eve to the argument for intellect. Since He loves us and has redeemed us, I choose to believe God will place relationship before intellect.

The bible repeats itself often about God’s desire for us to seek Him, relationship before intellect. So much of what we do in searching the scriptures seems to be gaining knowledge about God, His ways and His will. Do we seek intellect in doing that or do we put relationship first?

This is a warning which began in the garden with the serpent. God is withholding information from us. The only way to stop Satan from filling our minds with these intellectual distractions is to make sure we are putting relationship before intellect.

Great men have studied the Word their whole life and have volumes of works that could take decades to read and comprehend. It is easy to get caught up in the appreciation of those works. Those works came into existence because the authors placed relationship before intellect. The way I know this is in the truths that are revealed there that could only have come via the Holy Spirit.