And He spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master (teacher): but everyone that is perfect (trained) shall be as his master (teacher) – Luke 6:39-40.

When it comes to our spirituality we need to make sure we’re following the right teacher and leaders because we will go no farther than they do. Those that are led by the common opinion, course, religious and customs of this world, are themselves blind, and are led by the blind.

A person can only teach you what he or she is familiar with, when it comes to our spiritual growth, we need to find teachers and leaders that can produce spiritual fruit in our life. The reason why there is so much dysfunction in believers, it’s because they try to understand the word of God with their intellect whether than with the Spirit. They teach others what they understand leading both them and those who follow their teaching in erroneous teaching or belief of scripture.

Scripture has to be discerned by the Spirit (But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned – 1st Corinthians 2:14). Spiritual discernment is generated only by the Holy Spirit, the capacity to know spiritual truth is beyond the intellect. The heart has to be regenerated in order to receive truth and submit to the truth. A regenerated heart is different from a heart that has received salvation. Those who receive salvation believe in God, they believe Jesus is the Son of God. They also believe because of Jesus their sins have been forgiven. Once we receive Jesus as our Savior, there is a continuous cleansing from our sins, if we allow Him (Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you – John 15:3). 

In order to receive the cleansing, the Bible has to be read and then studied (Study {be diligent} to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth-2nd Timothy  2:15).  

The majority of Christians don’t read their Bible until they attend church as well as attending Bible Study. In order to grow spiritually, one must have more than preaching, but teaching that will open our spiritual understanding to the word of God. Learning comes by teaching and preaching, but we must also have our individual study time in the word of God. We can’t submit to something we don’t know. The Bible has to be read as well as an understanding of what we’re reading.

Spiritually discernment comes by the Holy Spirit giving us understanding of the Bible. The Holy Spirit comes within us when we receive the Holy Spirit, not just salvation. Although Jesus was the Son of God, He didn’t go into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan until He received the Holy Spirit. He didn’t do one miracle until He had received the Holy Spirit (And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost {Spirit} returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness – Luke 4:1). We can’t be led by the Spirit, if the Spirit is not within us (If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him – Luke 11:13)? Jesus was talking to the believer, not the unbeliever, He was talking to those who had excepted Him as the Son of God as well as their Savior, to ask for the Holy Spirit.

Redemption is salvation being released from the bondage of sin. When we receive the Holy Spirit, He’s the power to help us not to return to the bondage of sin.  When we don’t pray, fast, read and study the Bible as well as attend Bible Study, we don’t grow spiritually. Because of this, many are not living in the benefits God has given through His Son because they’re not aware of what belongs to them. Scriptures are misquoted as well as understood because they don’t have spiritual understanding. What they understand they will teach others, leading them in the same spiritual dysfunction as they are.

It’s a spiritual benefit to take the time to read, study, pray, and fast and attend Sunday worship and mid-week service. We take time to do everything else that will fade away in the coming of our Lord or death, but spiritual maturity is a gateway to heaven!