When I study Scripture, I am constantly asking what does this word or phrase mean? For example, Ephesians 5 talks about being filled with the Spirit, but instead of defining what it means to be filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5, Paul gives characteristics of one who is being filled with the Spirit.
In the book of Proverbs, much is written about wisdom and understanding, but wisdom and understanding are not clearly defined in Proverbs. We are just told to get wisdom and to get understanding.
Psalm 37:4 says; Delight thyself also in the Lord and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. What does it mean to delight oneself in the Lord? How do I do that?
In John 6 Jesus is the bread of life. He says to the Pharisees; Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:53&54) What does this mean? How can we eat His flesh and drink His blood!?
At times the Scripture appears to be speaking in riddles by saying; this is what you need to have and this is what it looks like. The Scripture also teaches that if you search for it, you will find it! The wonderful thing about studying and searching the Scriptures is that somewhere in Scripture, the riddles are defined.
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. Prov. 2:1-6
Being filled or controlled by the Spirit is defined in the parallel passage of Colossians chapter 3 as letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
Wisdom and understanding are clearly defined in Job 28:28. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Isaiah explains what it means to delight in the Lord; …….honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; Isaiah 58:13b&14a
Jesus explains His statement concerning eating His flesh and drinking His blood a few verses later in John 6; Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
The Lord continues; What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth (makes alive); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:60-63
…….let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…….