The Christian Online Magazine -
"The knots we cannot untie we must bring to Him Who alone can give an understanding."
- Matthew Henry
In John 16:12-16, we read of the incident when our Lord spoke to His disciples and told them - "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now...A little while...and again, a little while...."
He was not able to go into detail with them, concerning specific truths, for they were filled with prejudices of thought that had to be overcome, and there were yet plans that needed to be developed in their lives.
Great changes were coming and would come to their world!
Their first reaction to Jesus' words was consternation and frustration.
John 16:17-18 - "Then said some of His disciples among themselves, What is this that He saith unto us, A little while...and again, a little while...What is this that He saith, A little while? we cannot tell what He saith."
Little did they know that Jesus was referring to His death which would occur the very next day - "A little while..."
"And again a little while" - He then made reference to His resurrection.
Because the disciples were still filled with the mindset that He would set up a worldly kingdom on this earth, this conversation, referring to His death and resurrection, found no place in their minds at this time.
How would Jesus break through to the disciples? How would they ever understand the plan of God that was unravelling for themselves and for the Church in general?
John 16:13 - Considering their weakness at the moment, the Lord directed their attention from themselves to the Holy Ghost Who would fully explain to them all future events that were dark and difficult for them to understand - "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come."
They were not to lean to their own understanding, nor to that of another man or this world. The Holy Ghost would take God's Word and communicate it to them - that which pertained to His will and work for their lives.
Today, the Lord God is calling for the attention of His Church. He has a Word for them in this hour. As He said to the disciples of old, He says once again to us - "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now...A little while...And again a little while..."
Many have heard a specific word from the Lord and have yet to see its fulfillment or to understand its full meaning.
One thing about it - great change is coming to our lives.
Things will not always be as they are.
Life, as we know it, will be very different.
The Lord Jesus is saying to us - "A little while...And again, a little while..."
When we hear that change is coming, our first reaction may be fear for we do not understand its meaning. Perhaps there are those who are doing quite well in life at this moment and do not want change to occur.
Nevertheless, change is coming.
But first of all, it must come to our minds and hearts. There are prejudices of thought that must be overcome. None of us has arrived. There is so much more for us to learn and understand, concerning the things of God.
So many are holding on to dead traditions and not allowing the Lord to change their way of thinking according to His Word.
So many have tunnel vision and can only see things "one way" - their way.
So many are tied to the past - They attest that if God moved one way back then, then He will surely perform His will in the same way today.
This is not to say that He will do anything contrary to His Word. Nonetheless, the proverbial "box," in which many have placed Him, must be smashed for He does not always operate the same as in days gone by.
Change is coming. And the Lord Jesus knows that we are not quite ready to bear it all now.
Who do we run to for understanding?
Do we look to another man?
Should we run to the institutions of learning for wisdom and counsel?
God has already made provision. He has sent forth the "Spirit of Truth" - the Holy Ghost - to "guide" us into all truth and to shew us "things to come."
"A little while...and again a little while..." - God is moving in our midst. He is transforming our lives. He is conforming us like never before to the image of His dear Son.
He is bringing change - drastic changes for some.
Hebrews 12: 27 - All that can be shaken is being shaken that "those things which cannot be shaken may remain."
He is examining the foundation of our Faith to be sure that it is solely based on Christ Jesus, the Rock of Ages. All other ground is sinking sand.
Is God speaking a specific word to you, your family, ministry, prayer group, or church that you do not quite understand at this time?
Do not be puzzled or frustrated.
Do not lean to your own understanding.
Do not run to another man for answers.
Run to the Holy Ghost - the "Spirit of Truth" - and allow Him to teach you the things that you need to know at this hour. Allow Him to make the necessary changes in your life to prepare you for that which is to come. He will give you understanding in all things according to His Word.
Zechariah 4:6 - Always keep in mind the words of the Prophet Zechariah - "...Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts."
Cry out to the Father to endue you with power from on high.
Cry out to Jesus to baptize you with the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
Ask God to fill you with His gifts and to develop His fruit in your life.
Oh! How we need the Power of the Holy Ghost at this hour!
"A little while...and again a little while..."
Without Him, we will never be able to understand the things of God that are happening around us.
Change is coming. Get ready for it.
Psalm 75:5-7 - "Lift not up your horn on high; speak not with a stiff neck.
For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another."
Copyright 2003 by Connie Giordano
