View source for Chapter 5: Open the door to understanding

{{bl| Chapter 5: Open the door to understanding }}

Many want to understand the Bible but the door to understanding has been blocked by the Nicolaitans (conquerors of the laity) who would not enter in, nor allow others to. <ref>{{bgw| Mt 23:13 }}  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.</ref> Long is the list of subtle hostilities foisted upon those who desire to know God.

Instructions on how to open the door have been available the whole time, but hidden in poor teaching and ignorance. 

{{bgw| Mt 7:7-11 }}  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9  Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

There are three things mentioned: seek, ask, and knock. Whenever there are three things, think of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Seek the Father, ask the Son, knock with the Holy Spirit.

'''Seek'''

Have you ever tried to find a purple elephant in orbit around Mars? According to Chaos theory, things can just pop in and out of existence and if there is a small probability it may occur, given enough time it will occur.  It should be called Kaos theory to honor the nonsensical comedy "Get Smart". 

You don't look for the purple elephant because you don't believe that it exists. In order to find the hidden teaching of Jesus, or as Paul calls it "the mystery hidden from the beginning" you must first believe it exists. <ref>{{bgw|  Heb 11:6 }} But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.</ref>

Those who are hostile to God and don't want you to know him will discourage you from looking by giving you all the reasons why you shouldn't look.

:"If it exists, why haven't we seen it before?"
:"If it exists, how did it get there?"
:"If it's new, it's not true!" 
:"I can't see it, so it doesn't exist!"
:"The Greek! The Greek!  The church reads Greek!"
:"Fingers can't make bunny shadows; only finger shadows."
:"Your salvation will be in jeopardy if you look!"
:"Why look when it is not there?"

These objections are actual excuses given me by seminary theological professors. There are none so blind as those who refuse to look. Look for the Father, he can now be found. <ref>{{bgw| Joh 14:9 }} Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father? </ref>

'''Ask'''

Many books concerning the interpretation of scripture suggest that you ask God to help you. Unfortunately they do not tell you how to know when you have been helped. They suggest you have a one-way conversation with God and not to expect a tangible answer from him. 

God's name 'Elohim' means 'God ''el'' אל separated from man ''eem'' ים  by ignorance ה.  He wants you to know him. He will answer your request to know him in a tangible way. Here's how:

1. Recognize the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God is in childish riddles packed away in the literal text by God.  This has been hidden from you by the Nicolaitans. 

:{{bgw| Pr 1:5,6 }} A wise [man] will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6  To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings [riddles]. </ref>

Wisdom is the discerning of prophetic riddles. The 'scholars' deny that such riddles exist.

2. If you lack wisdom, God is happy to give it to you liberally.

:{{bgw| Jas 1:5 }} If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.</ref>

Ask God for his wisdom to unpack his prophetic riddle. Jesus is our intercessor. He came to make the Father known. Ask him for his wisdom. This is one prayer you know you are asking in his will.

'''Knock'''

As you go to visit Bill, you stop by Bill's neighbors house and ask him if Bill is home. you are told to go knock on Bill's door. You have your excuses:

:"It's another 100 yards. It is too far."
:"I'm not sure what language Bill speaks. I don't speak Greek or Hebrew."
:"I would, but I have a birthday to celebrate, a parent to bury, homework, and a lawn to mow."

We live by the Spirit. 'Living' refers to the things we do. "Oh, but the Nicolaitan said that we are Calvinists and we can't do anything or we would be adding works to grace."  If you can't do anything then you are dead already. 

God uses knowledge that you have acquired by study, to answer your prayer. Do you wonder why you don't get an answer to your request for wisdom? Maybe because you haven't studied, or when you did study, you were limited by the hostilities of the Nicolaitans.