Why We Lack Understanding by Oswald Chambers

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Joyful_Heart Apr 7, 2011

Why We Lack Understanding

Apr 07 2011
He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead —Mark 9:9

As the disciples were commanded, you should also say nothing until the Son of Man has risen in you— until the life of the risen Christ so dominates you that you truly understand what He taught while here on earth. When you grow and develop the right condition inwardly, the words Jesus spoke become so clear that you are amazed you did not grasp them before. In fact, you were not able to understand them before because you had not yet developed the proper spiritual condition to deal with them.

Our Lord doesn’t hide these things from us, but we are not prepared to receive them until we are in the right condition in our spiritual life. Jesus said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). We must have a oneness with His risen life before we are prepared to bear any particular truth from Him. Do we really know anything about the indwelling of the risen life of Jesus? The evidence that we do is that His Word is becoming understandable to us. God cannot reveal anything to us if we don’t have His Spirit. And our own unyielding and headstrong opinions will effectively prevent God from revealing anything to us. But our insensible thinking will end immediately once His resurrection life has its way with us.

“. . . tell no one . . . .” But so many people do tell what they saw on the Mount of Transfiguration— their mountaintop experience. They have seen a vision and they testify to it, but there is no connection between what they say and how they live. Their lives don’t add up because the Son of Man has not yet risen in them. How long will it be before His resurrection life is formed and evident in you and in me?

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RobertW Apr 7, 2011

Good one.

sermonindex Apr 10, 2011

“. . . tell no one . . . .” But so many people do tell what they saw on the Mount of Transfiguration— their mountaintop experience. They have seen a vision and they testify to it, but there is no connection between what they say and how they live. Their lives don’t add up because the Son of Man has not yet risen in them. How long will it be before His resurrection life is formed and evident in you and in me?

It is also, (according to G W North) possible to throw oneself off the mountaintop, effectively abandoning the on-going work of God in one's life, thinking one has 'arrived', when actually one should be still very much on the journey to Jerusalem (where, as Jesus was to 'accomplish His decease', we too must be co-operating with the accomplishment of ours, in Him). Maybe this is an angle on what OC is saying in this excerpt.

sermonindex Apr 10, 2011

Oswald Chambers practiced what he preached and I only of late came to this realization.

He didn't "write any books" and this has been a Love Story for me that can be compared to us and the Words of Jesus.

Oswald Chambers - (1874-1917) - died at age 43.

Oh how she loved him ...

"During the seven years of their marriage, his wife, Gertrude (Biddy) Hobbs, took verbatim shorthand notes of nearly all his lectures and sermons. After his death, she spent the rest of her life publishing her husband’s spoken words. His best-known book, My Utmost for His Highest, has been continuously in print since it was first published in 1927."

[Taken from: Chambers, Oswald ; McCasland, Dave: The Quotable Oswald Chambers. Grand Rapids, MI : Discovery House Publishers, 2008, S. 11]

One could get tears reading this and comparing this to our Love for "The WORD of GOD" - Jesus and His Words, The Word of GOD.

'She [His beloved Bride] took verbatim notes of all that He said. After His death, she spent 'the rest of her life' studying and putting into her heart, her Husband’s spoken Words.'

We have no confidence in our flesh at all - but Can stand confident and bold in recalling His WORDs and copying it out to the world and to whomsoever will listen - because and only because we Love our Husband and are willing to give our lives for what He's Spoken because His Words are Truth. Amen, and Amen! Such Love. Many waters cannot quench this Love.