Spiritual Enlightenment

By IQ Spencer
Rewritten for Banner by me

 

There is placed in every Spirit-fill child of God an inward sensitiveness to spiritual matters. We are made conscious, by this sensitiveness to the spiritual atmosphere about us, of our own relation to God, of the spiritual tone of meetings, and of attitudes or actions both in us and in others that either exalt the Lord or grieve the Holy Spirit.

 

Perhaps its most important function is that which has to do with our personal contact with God. In this we are made aware of the presence of God and convictions are given to us as to His will and ways. So little are we taught about this and so little do we understand, that often we disregard the “still small voice” within. It is soon quenched and the Holy Spirit grieved, and this inner sensitiveness is lost. This inner voice is closely related to our communion with God. If it is lost, we need to repent and earnestly pray that there may be a restoration of that which is lost.

 

Likewise, by this inner sense we are told of the spiritual quality of a ministry, whether prophecy, preaching, testimony, prayer or worship. By this same operation of the Holy Spirit one is made aware of motives in ministry. Among the things that are felt are humility, love, gentleness and dependence on God. On the other hand, spiritual pride, self-esteem, envy, strife and bitterness of heart are also detected. In other words, one’s ministry is affected by what is in the heart. This enlightenment has so many variations and enters into so many realms that it is not always easily followed. Alas, how little it is understood.

 

This inner spiritual sense is sometimes called discernment. John Wesley called it “inner witness;” George Fox called it “inner light.” It is a divinely imparted ability to the senses, the mind, the affections and different faculties of man which enables him to understand spiritual states and motives of men, though to the natural man this knowledge may be hidden.

 

There are also natural attractions and aversions, both to people and things that arise within us, that are not of the Holy Spirit. How necessary it is to walk close to the Lord and take care that we do not mistake the natural for the spiritual. By a careful guarding against critical, uncharitable attitudes, and a concern for God’s glory alone, we will be kept from error in this realm.

 

Many people have a goodly portion of natural discernment by which they know conditions, but this is not discerning by the Spirit. As a result they may think that which is of the natural is of God and be mistaken. Much harm can result. Natural discernment fails when it comes to the great mysteries of the spiritual realm and activity. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit,” for they are discerned by the Holy Spirit alone.

 

A foundational principle of this inner enlightenment is that it begins at home. One should know his own fallen nature, his motives and attitudes to rightly see by the Spirit that which is in others. One who sees bad states in others and does not correct the same things in himself is a hypocrite. True discerning must be grounded in love and unselfish consideration of others if we hope to help the needy.

 

Much profit has been received from the book The Prophetic State by the late Seeley D. Kinne. I quote from this book some statements which can be most helpful: “There is a discerning that is by a supernatural light within the mind. This is of the nature of the gift of knowledge, and makes one to know the facts, conditions and states of a matter, or of a person. It is so entirely supernatural that it is not easily described in natural language.” The Spirit shines a light into the understanding in such a clear way that what was not before naturally known, now by a knowledge given in the

 

Spirit, becomes certain. This belongs properly to the gift of knowledge.

 

Again there is light divine shining into the heart, discovering persons and conditions to one. It was this glory light that shone into both the heart and outward eye of Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration, penetrating his inmost being. It was this divine glory that lighted the road to Damascus and shone upon Saul of Tarsus. It immediately transformed Saul from a persecutor to a humble believer.

 

Another aspect of this divine knowledge might be called prophetic discerning. It is the examination of prophetic operations and utterances. This kind is essential to keep prophecy pure from mixture with the human mind.

 

A great error has been committed at this point. We have assayed to pass judgment on the works of the Spirit by natural human reason. But we are sure to blunder. Incalculable harm has been done by such trespass of the human reason. Those whom God would use have been dwarfed and discouraged by such wretched works. Do not do it. If God does to give clear sight in the Spirit, leave the manifestation alone and pray.

 

This realm in divine enlightenment is given in measure “to every man to profit withal.” By walking and living in close communion with our lovely Lord, we shall find our spirits made more sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s whispered words of admonition and warning.