THE VIRTUE OF SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION

-    “And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me” (Luke 18:46). Jesus PERCEIVED (a change in the spiritual realm).

-          “For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity” (Acts 8:23; see also Acts 10:34). Peter PERCEIVED (a wrong fellow).

-          “And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives” (Acts 27:10). Paul PERCEIVED (there was danger ahead).

-          “And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually” (2 Kings 4:9). The Shunamite woman PERCEIVED (a divine opportunity to bless and be blessed).

-          “And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him” (Neh. 6:2). Nehemiah PERCEIVED (a spiritual conspiracy of the enemies).

Spiritual perception helps:

1.      To understand physically the changes taking place in the spiritual realm. Remember that God is Spirit, and He communicates not with your flesh (body), but your spirit. It takes spirit to connect (the) Spirit, no wonder it is “Deep that calleth unto deep” (Psalm 42:7).

2.      It helps to identify divine opportunities when they come your way. That Shunamite woman could have missed the opportunity to mother a child if she had not perceived and taken a step.

3.      In a world filled with noise and mixed multitudes, spiritual perception helps to discern between the right and the wrong; between genuine doctrines and heresies; between sheep and wolves in sheep clothing. A man with this virtue of spiritual perception can hardly be a victim of fraudsters or wrong investment. A sister with this virtue will hardly fall victim to a pretentious man in relationship.

4.      It gives you direction in life and ensures your pursuit is correctly aligned with God’s will.

5.      It builds up your faith and confidence which has a great recompence of reward.

In conclusion, Jesus while on earth maximized this virtue of spiritual perception (Matthew 16:18; Mark 2:8; Luke 2:2; Luke 20:23, etc).

A life without the virtue of spiritual perception is an endangered life. Lot lost this virtue (of spiritual perception), and see what became of his life: “And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose” (Gen. 19:33, 35). Look at it: “He (Lot) PERCEIVED NOT”. Anything goes in the life of a man who has lost spiritual perception. Lack of spiritual perception does not guarantee a good end.

Prayer: Lord, let the virtue of spiritual perception rub on me in Jesus’ name.

(The Greatness Series Online @treasuredhouse)