What It Means to be Filled with the Holy Spirit # 32

"He That Hath an Ear, Let Him Calculate..." (continued)

1. Ephesians 1:17 tells us that we have been granted a spirit of wisdom and revelation, we have been granted "The Wisdom that is from above" (James 3:17), in order that we may thoroughly, accurately, and intimately know Christ, that we may have a full knowledge of Christ, and of that which is according to Christ: "[for I always pray] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation - of insight into mysteries and secrets - in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him".

2. Then, we also find that Christ "became to us Wisdom from God" in order that we might fully understand that which is antichrist, that which is against Christ, that which is not according to Christ: "Here is Wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count [at once] the number of the beast [the number of the name of it]; for it is the number of a man [or of man]; and its number is six hundred and sixty-six - "666" (Revelation 13:18; 15:2).

Beloved, since "Christ Jesus ... is made unto us Wisdom," why is it that so many Christians do not have an adequate apprehension of Christ? And why is it that so many Christians do not discern nor have understanding of that which is antichrist?

Remember, as Christ gives us the command to calculate at once the number of the name of the beast, He first says, "Here is Wisdom. Let him that hath understanding ..." Thus, in calculating the number of the name of the beast, whose name is "blasphemy," Wisdom and "understanding" is sometimes translated "mind" in our Bibles; however, the Greek word, "nous" has a much fuller meaning than our words "understanding" and "mind."

In Revelation 13:18 and 17:9, the words "understanding" or "mind" indicate thought, reasoning, perception, mind and understanding; thus, as it is used in these Scriptures, "understanding" is "the thought and the reasoning that takes place in the mind, which leads to understanding," and this "understanding" is the outcome of Christ being "made unto us Wisdom." And Christ is made unto us Wisdom because of the Work He accomplished upon His Cross.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 33)