Journey to see God: See as Mary sees

In this message today, the Spirit of the Lord showed us three disciples of Jesus and how they differed in seeing God -Jesus. The disciples are: Mary, Lazarus, and Judas Iscariot. ____________________________Here are the Bible verses. The watchman’s notes are after the Bible verses.

John 12:1-11 (ESV) Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for Him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound[a] of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it[c] for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus[d] was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

Footnotes:

1.John 12:3 Greek litra; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams

2.John 12:5 A denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer

3.John 12:7 Or Leave her alone; she intended to keep it

4.John 12:9 Greek he

_____________Watchman’s notes

 Jesus was the main character. He came to a home where they prepared a dinner for Him. A number of His disciples and even large crowd were there. The hostess, Martha served them. There were three other main characters: Lazarus, Mary and Judas Iscariot, all disciples of Jesus.

 Lazarus, a disciple who was raised to life from dead: There was no record of his spoken words. He merely testified Jesus, the Son of God, and the mighty work of God, the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus operated in, by being himself. He was alive and well. He sat close to Jesus. He was not afraid of death (or the threat of death from the chief priests) anymore. He became an overcomer just by being with Jesus.

 Mary, a disciple who sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His teaching, believed Him, and was the only disciple who acted according to what she received from HIs Spirit-filled message (which all other disciples had failed to hear or understood as they continued to be hindered by their flesh). She was the first and only disciple who discerned spiritual things which Jesus spoke about prior His crucifixion and death on the cross. The rest of the disciples had to wait till after the Lord's resurrection and after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day. How did Mary make it ahead of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit?

 The key is in what Jesus said in Luke 11:34-36. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” Mary had spent her life soaking in Jesus' presence and His words. Her eyes were filled with His light. Jesus knew and spoke of her eternal reward.

 Today, disciples of Jesus can receive the same from the Holy Spirit. The following verses explain this: 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (ESV) 16 But when one[a] turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord[b] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[c]are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Judas Iscariot: the disciple who was a thief. He later betrayed His master Jesus for the same price that Mary had given up for the same Lord Jesus. Jesus knew what he did and what he would do. Yet Jesus spoke to him and commented on his statement about the poor. Why? Jesus gave him another chance, “But you do not always have Me.” Judas still could not comprehend. He was filled with the world and was led by his flesh. He could not even wait a bit longer as he heard of Jesus’ forthcoming death. He did not want to lose the one last way of making some earthly fortune from Jesus. what good would Jesus be to him as a dead person? He figured.

Alas, this is the usual way an unspiritual man thinks. The signs and wonders are all supernatural but he just could not comprehend. His eyes are veiled when he reads the Bible. Only when oney turns to the Holy Spirit, the veil will be removed.

God’s Way is spiritual. Spiritual way is narrow and hard but it is the only way to life. Only the Spirit of life can show us this way.

Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV) 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Footnotes:

 1.Matthew 7:13 Some manuscripts For the way is wide and easy

What do end times Christians do? preaching, teaching and healing:

 Most Christians today are increasingly aware of what the Lord's will is. No one wants to be condemned by not knowing the will of the Father in heaven. Jesus clearly declared that only those who do the will of the Father can enter heaven. (Matt.7:21)

The utmost question is: What is the will of God? Jesus does the will of the Father in heaven and He knows the will of God. As Paul has urged us, let us emulate Christ.

 Matthew 9:35-38 (NKJV)

The Compassion of Jesus (Learn from His example of an evangelist)

³⁵ Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.^{[a] 36} But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary^[b] and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. ³⁷ Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. ³⁸ Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 9:35 NU-Text omits among the people.
2. Matthew 9:36 NU-Text and M-Text read harassed.

Matthew 10 (NKJV)

1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 

 ⁷ And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,^[c] cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

 ¹⁴ And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

 ¹⁶ “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.

  ²² And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

 ²⁶ Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

 ²⁸ And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

 ³² “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

³⁴ “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 

  ³⁸ And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁹ He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

⁴⁰ “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 

 

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said,

WHAT JESUS HAS TAUGHT AND HOW THE DISCIPLES HAD OBEYED

1. Matthew 4:2
   And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
   Matthew 4:1-3 (in Context) Matthew 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2. Matthew 6:16
   [ Fasting to Be Seen Only by God ] “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
   Matthew 6:15-17 (in Context) Matthew 6 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
3. Matthew 6:17
   But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
   Matthew 6:16-18 (in Context) Matthew 6 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
4. Matthew 6:18
   so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
   Matthew 6:17-19 (in Context) Matthew 6 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
5. Matthew 9:14
   [ Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting ] Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
   Matthew 9:13-15 (in Context) Matthew 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
6. Matthew 9:15
   And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
   Matthew 9:14-16 (in Context) Matthew 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
7. Matthew 17:21
   However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
   Matthew 17:20-22 (in Context) Matthew 17 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
8. Mark 2:18
   [ Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting ] The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
   Mark 2:17-19 (in Context) Mark 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
9. Mark 2:19
   And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
   Mark 2:18-20 (in Context) Mark 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
10. Mark 2:20
    But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.
    Mark 2:19-21 (in Context) Mark 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
11. Mark 9:29
    So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
    Mark 9:28-30 (in Context) Mark 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
12. Luke 2:37
    and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
    Luke 2:36-38 (in Context) Luke 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
13. Luke 5:33
    [ Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting ] Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?”
    Luke 5:32-34 (in Context) Luke 5 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
14. Luke 5:34
    And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?
    Luke 5:33-35 (in Context) Luke 5 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
15. Luke 5:35
    But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”
    Luke 5:34-36 (in Context) Luke 5 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
16. Luke 18:12
    I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
    Luke 18:11-13 (in Context) Luke 18 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
17. Acts 10:30
    So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
    Acts 10:29-31 (in Context) Acts 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
18. Acts 13:2
    As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
    Acts 13:1-3 (in Context) Acts 13 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
19. Acts 13:3
    Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
    Acts 13:2-4 (in Context) Acts 13 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
20. Acts 14:23
    So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
    Acts 14:22-24 (in Context) Acts 14 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
21. Acts 27:9
    [ Paul’s Warning Ignored ] Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,
    Acts 27:8-10 (in Context) Acts 27 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
22. 1 Corinthians 7:5
    Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
    1 Corinthians 7:4-6 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
23. 2 Corinthians 6:5
    in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
    2 Corinthians 6:4-6 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 6 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
24. 2 Corinthians 11:27
    in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
    2 Corinthians 11:26-28 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 11 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

End Times Watchman Bible Study: Love binds

In the end three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love. Let love be your highest goal! (1 Cor.13:13; 14:1)

GOD IS LOVE. (1 John 4:16)

How to know you belong to God? The identity is verified by the LOVE code in everyone. It is not a physical, mental or emotional thing. It is spiritual. God is Spirit. For those who believe in Jesus, the Son of God (the Messiah – Christ), a coding in the form of the Holy Spirit is stamped, sealed on or deposited in them. This is the LOVE identity from God. 

John 3:16

1. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
   John 3:15-17 (in Context) John 3 (Whole Chapter)
2. John 3:19
   And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
   John 3:18-20 (in Context) John 3 (Whole Chapter)
3. John 3:35
   The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.
   John 3:34-36 (in Context) John 3 (Whole Chapter)
4. John 5:20
   For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
   John 5:19-21 (in Context) John 5 (Whole Chapter)
5. John 5:42
   But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.
   John 5:41-43 (in Context) John 5 (Whole Chapter)
6. John 8:42
   Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.
   John 8:41-43 (in Context) John 8 (Whole Chapter)
7. John 10:17
   “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
   John 10:16-18 (in Context) John 10 (Whole Chapter)
8. John 11:3
   Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
   John 11:2-4 (in Context) John 11 (Whole Chapter)
9. John 11:5
   Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
   John 11:4-6 (in Context) John 11 (Whole Chapter)
10. John 11:36
    Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
    John 11:35-37 (in Context) John 11 (Whole Chapter)
11. John 12:25
    He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
    John 12:24-26 (in Context) John 12 (Whole Chapter)
12. John 12:43
    for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
    John 12:42-44 (in Context) John 12 (Whole Chapter)
13. John 13:1
    [ Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet ] Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
    John 13:1-3 (in Context) John 13 (Whole Chapter)
14. John 13:23
    Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
    John 13:22-24 (in Context) John 13 (Whole Chapter)
15. John 13:34
    A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
    John 13:33-35 (in Context) John 13 (Whole Chapter)
16. John 13:35
    By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
    John 13:34-36 (in Context) John 13 (Whole Chapter)
17. John 14:15
    [ Jesus Promises Another Helper ] “If you love Me, keep My commandments.
    John 14:14-16 (in Context) John 14 (Whole Chapter)
18. John 14:21
    He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
    John 14:20-22 (in Context) John 14 (Whole Chapter)
19. John 14:23
    Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
    John 14:22-24 (in Context) John 14 (Whole Chapter)
20. John 14:24
    He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
    John 14:23-25 (in Context) John 14 (Whole Chapter)
21. John 14:28
    You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.
    John 14:27-29 (in Context) John 14 (Whole Chapter)
22. John 14:31
    But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
    John 14:30-31 (in Context) John 14 (Whole Chapter)
23. John 15:9
    [ Love and Joy Perfected ] “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
    John 15:8-10 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter)
24. John 15:10
    If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
    John 15:9-11 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter)
25. John 15:12
    This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
    John 15:11-13 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter)
26. John 15:13
    Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
    John 15:12-14 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter)
27. John 15:17
    These things I command you, that you love one another.
    John 15:16-18 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter)
28. John 15:19
    If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
    John 15:18-20 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter)
29. John 16:27
    for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.
    John 16:26-28 (in Context) John 16 (Whole Chapter)
30. John 17:23
    I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
    John 17:22-24 (in Context) John 17 (Whole Chapter)
31. John 17:24
    “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
    John 17:23-25 (in Context) John 17 (Whole Chapter)
32. John 17:26
    And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
    John 17:25-26 (in Context) John 17 (Whole Chapter)
33. John 19:26
    When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”
    John 19:25-27 (in Context) John 19 (Whole Chapter)
34. John 20:2
    Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
    John 20:1-3 (in Context) John 20 (Whole Chapter)
35. John 21:7
    Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
    John 21:6-8 (in Context) John 21 (Whole Chapter)
36. John 21:15
    [ Jesus Restores Peter ] So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
    John 21:14-16 (in Context) John 21 (Whole Chapter)
37. John 21:16
    He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
    John 21:15-17 (in Context) John 21 (Whole Chapter)
38. John 21:17
    He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
    John 21:16-18 (in Context) John 21 (Whole Chapter)

End Times Watchman Bible Study: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

The watchman and his class found a dilemma in this verse. "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark9:24)

How can one have faith and still has doubt and unbelief at the same time? 

This requires immediate investigation. Many cannot receive the healing and deliverance from their diseases and weaknesses because of this contradiction in them. The watchman's study notes are in brackets.

Mark 9:14-32 

A Boy Is Healed

¹⁴ And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. ¹⁵ Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. ¹⁶ And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
¹⁷ Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. ¹⁸ And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”

(A great multitude was there and they observed the physical condition of the sick boy and the failure of Jesus' disciples to cast out the mute demon from him. They were even arguing with the 'specialists' -scribes over the treatment of this medical or mental case. The disciples had been given authority and power by Jesus previously and had been successful in their healing ministry. So why did they fail this time? The patient's father of course complained to the master healer Himself. It was natural to react the way he did to failure and disappointment.) 

¹⁹ He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 

(Jesus was not addressing the faithless crowd of bystanders or the patient and his father. They did not know Him or His power. Many had not even heard the full Gospel of the Kingdom of God and of Christ. Jesus was addressing His own disciples who had followed Him and lived with Him and witnessed His supernatural power and deeds. They had heard the full Gospel. They had been given authority and power by Him. Note how Jesus described them.)

²⁰ Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
²¹ So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. ²² And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
²³ Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

(Note the conversation between the patient's father and Jesus. How can anyone be believing and not believing at the same time?  Was he telling lies? But the poor man was in tears. He was in front of a big crowd. Yet he continued pleading to Jesus to heal his son. So he must have heard of Jesus' power and believed that Jesus could do it. Yet, he admitted that he had unbelief. Amazing. This is the theme of today's message. Can we have faith and unbelief at the same time?)

²⁵ When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” ²⁶ Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

(Note how simple the matter was. Jesus merely commanded and the evil spirit obeyed and came out of the boy. The boy might have looked terrible when he was possessed. But Jesus saw the evil spirit and not the patient. In the spiritual realm Jesus' authority is recognized and obeyed.) 

²⁸ And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
²⁹ So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting." **

(Note the conversation between the disciples and Jesus. The disciples were still obsessed with their job failure. They were looking at the physical  (body and soul -mind and emotion) realm, the humiliation and inadequacy they felt in not delivering the required result.) But Jesus did not answer them about this 'job' or 'performance assessment'. He revealed the true condition of their spirits. They were still living within the paradigm of their physical and natural world. they were unable to believe that Jesus' Father (God)'s world is real, even though they could not see it. Jesus had taught them and demonstrated to them the reality of God and that He is from God. But their hearts were hardened by their preoccupation with the physical and natural and unbelief of the spiritual reality.)

Those who are not spiritually discerned cannot understand the things of God. God is Spirit. The Pharisees and Scribes cannot understand. Christians are expected to know and understand. But Many cannot. Why? Spiritual discernment comes from diligently seeking God, belief in the spiritual reality of God (and His word), being led by faith and not by sight. These are all essential in order to know and understand the matters of God, that is, the matters as revealed by the Holy Spirit (often through the word of God).


___________
**Notes on FASTING: This does not mean certain evil spirits are so powerful that the disciples cannot cast it out even by Jesus Name. The fasting is for the disciples to cast their own flesh and unbelief of God’s spiritual reality. Unbelief nullifies their use of the Name of Jesus and the authority therein over spiritual beings (e.g. evil spirits). They did not believe because they were walking by sight and not by faith. Their hearts were hardened by the world and worldly knowledge. They could not discern spiritual matters because they were not led by the Spirit.

Fasting deals with our flesh and carnal man.  
Being a disciple means we need to deny ourselves (body, mind and emotion and everything that makes up us in the physical natural realm), take up our cross and follow Christ daily. Only sons of God are led by the Holy Spirit. Only when we walk and live by the Spirit, can we discern spiritual matters and war in the spiritual realm, taking the authority of the name of the Son of God, Jesus effectively.