Common sense is a basic human ability to perceive, understand and judge things or ideas which are shared by or common to nearly all people. Common sense is just ordinary good sense, and it keeps us from doing foolish or hurtful things. It tells us not to go for a two-mile walk outdoors without a coat and hat when the temperature is below zero. It tells us not to buy something we cannot afford and keeps us from storing ice cream in the cupboard.

It is hard to deal with people in this world who don’t have common sense; however, none of us can depend on common sense when it comes to dealing with the things of God because He does not use man’s common sense. God’s thoughts are not ordinary or common. God said, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8,9).

Those who depend on common sense can become offended at the higher ways of God, and then they hinder God’s divine help for them. They don’t live in the divine will of God, and they don’t want to. They think they know a better way and can make better decisions for themselves.

Many people have gotten into trouble by depending on common sense rather than on divinity because man’s ordinary good sense and judgment cannot be depended on to discern spiritual things. 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 (I Corinthians 2:14).

Understanding Can Wait

Instead of depending on common sense, Paul tells the Corinthians, For by faith ye stand (II Corinthians 1:24). In divine faith is the only way you will be able to stand. You cannot stand in human faith; it is too fragile.

When troubles come, Paul said, Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves (II Corinthians 13:5). We bring a lot of troubles upon our own heads; and then we cry out to God, “I don’t understand why this is happening!” Well, you can get understanding through the Holy Spirit.

When something happens, always ask yourself, “Am I at fault? Did I cause this?” Many times, people get into trouble because they don’t use divine wisdom; but if you will yield to the Holy Spirit, He will let you know about it. The Bible says, 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 (James 1:5). God will never rebuke you when you ask for His wisdom, but some people never ask Him for it in faith believing. God said through Daniel, They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever (Daniel 12:3).

Common sense says you have to understand everything; but when you have the faith, the love and the peace of God, you don’t have to understand everything. Just walk with the Lord in divine faith, and that faith will show you the way. Hold God’s hand, and you will be all right; but when you accuse God or blame Him for things, you will not get His help. He and the Holy Spirit will just back away and leave you alone until you can say as Job did, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him (Job 13:15).

Beware of Unbelief

Many churches are spiritually dead today because they are filled with nice people who depend on common sense and on ordinary things and traditions that are observed by many. They won’t accept things that their human senses do not perceive to be true like the Virgin Birth of Christ, living a sinless life, believing in divine miracles and speaking with other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives the utterance.

When Jesus was here, many people did not accept Him to be the Son of God. And when he [Jesus] was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas [not Judas Iscariot]? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him (Matthew 13:54-57).

Those people looked at Jesus only as a human and did not know who He really was. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief (Matthew 13:57,58).

Unbelief is one of the devil’s greatest tools he uses to rob people of having their needs supplied; but the Word says, My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

Common sense says you should be worried if you lose your job; but the Bible says, Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed (Psalm 37:3). You must first check to see if you had anything to do with losing your job. If you didn’t, the Lord said He would give you another one if you would live holy, tithe and give unto Him. Don’t get anxious about it; just start putting in your application at places you would like to work and trust God. The Lord didn’t promise you would starve; He promised He would supply your needs.

Some people always feel like something bad is going to happen, but I always feel like something good is about to happen! I stay happy while they are miserable and waiting for something to go wrong. The Bible says we are to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (I Peter 1:8), and God is on the throne when you are obedient to Him.

When you are saved, you become a joint-heir with Jesus. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16,17). You become a son or a daughter of God, so you should never act or talk like a pauper.

Take God’s Way

Gideon didn’t depend on common sense once he yielded to God’s ways; but when God first started dealing with him about the Midianites, it was a different story. The Midianites were strong people who had prevailed over Israel and other nations as well. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds (Judges 6:2). The Israelites hid themselves. Do you hide from trouble, or do you meet it head-on?

And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it (Judges 6:3-5). The Midianites robbed Israel of everything.

In the midst of all that turmoil, the Lord told Gideon to go up against the Midianites and save Israel; and he [Gideon] said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house (Judges 6:15). That was divine humility on Gideon’s part, but it was still a common sense reply. However, when Gideon began to see through the eyes of God, he knew that God was able to do anything; and all he needed to do was find out what God’s will was.

Wait on God

Gideon is the first person we read about in the Bible who used fleeces. But with such a mighty task ahead, Gideon knew he could not depend on what his natural senses told him; so he reached for the higher thoughts and ways of God, and he put out a fleece that had nothing to do with common sense. And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water (Judges 6:36-38).

Gideon wanted to be sure that was God moving, so he put out another fleece. And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground (Judges 6:39,40). When God answered both of those fleeces, Gideon prepared the people to go against the Midianites.

Take a lesson from Gideon and never put out a fleece just one way, or you will get into trouble. God doesn’t mind you waiting before you move, but He does mind you running ahead of Him and doing things when you are not sure. I have learned that putting out two fleeces like Gideon did is the way it should be done.

The preparation of Gideon’s army included God cutting down the number of soldiers Gideon had from 10,000 to only 300. Again, that was not common sense; but the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped [the water] will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place (Judges 7:7).

Do not get excited or anxious when God moves in ways that make no sense to you. Gideon depended completely on God, and the Israelites prevailed over the Midianites. Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon (Judges 8:28).

Know the Truth

Before Paul was saved, he depended on common sense; and he actually thought he was doing the Lord a service by having the saints of God put to death. I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women (Acts 22:4). And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme [against the name of Jesus]; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities [into other nations where he wasn’t supposed to have gone] (Acts 26:11). For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it (Galatians 1:13).

How many people today think they are doing God a service by persecuting His true Church? You have to separate from those who are doing such things because God puts unbelievers in the same category as murderers and sorcerers. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death (Revelation 21:8).

If you don’t separate from the wrong people, God will separate from you. He will never bring you into the true light because you have chosen darkness. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil (John 3:19).

Jesus said that only the truth can set you free. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). You cannot be free of just some things; you have to be free of everything. When you are not, you will become depressed and carry unnecessary burdens. Only through divinity can you be completely free, and you won’t get by any other way.

You cannot compromise the truth for anyone. God told Ezekiel that if he didn’t tell people the truth, their blood would be on his hands. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul (Ezekiel 3:18,19).

No one’s blood is going to be on my hands because I tell people the truth, and then I leave them in the hands of God. For it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord (Romans 12:19).

Depend on Divine Love

When Peter depended on common sense, he got into big trouble; and he used his sword to cut off a man’s ear when the man was trying to arrest Jesus. Then he got offended when Jesus said, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it (John 18:11)? Peter knew better than to get offended because Jesus had told the disciples, Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me (Matthew 11:6). Yet Peter became so offended and insulted after that incident that he backslid.

John, the youngest disciple, was different from Peter; and that was because he had divine love. John didn’t depend on common sense; he trusted everything Jesus said. That is the kind of love you get when you find Jesus, and you can’t find Him without His love and grace.

God loves you enough to show you His will, and you must love and honor Him enough to do things His way and keep your common sense opinions out of the way. True love for Christ will take you beyond common sense; but if you don’t have that perfect love, your life will be up and down.

The Bible tells us what divine love is in I Corinthians 13. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing (I Corinthians 13:1,2). Divine love lasts, and it is for real. When you love your brothers and sisters in Christ, you will pray for those who are sick or in trouble.

Charity [love] suffereth long, and is kind (I Corinthians 13:4). Divine love doesn’t speak things that will hinder people. Charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up [full of ego] (I Corinthians 13:4). People who pout don’t have the love of God, and they get offended by the Word. When you get offended and turn your back on the truth, you will never make it to Heaven.

[Love] doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth (I Corinthians 13:5,6). Who would reject something like that?—people who don’t want righteousness, God, Jesus or the Holy Ghost. The Lord says we are to have no fellowship with such people.

[Love] beareth all things, believeth all things [that are of God], hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth (I Corinthians 13:7,8). The world will know those who are truly of the Lord because they have love one for another. Jesus said, By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35).

Trust in Divinity

It is easy to depend on common sense because it is so much a part of human nature; but the Bible says, Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). That word “trust” means everything, but just saying you trust God is not enough. You have to trust Him with your whole heart.

In all thy ways [no exceptions] acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:6). When you only honor the Lord in some of your ways, you will make foolish mistakes and fail to use the wisdom of God. Only when you acknowledge God in all your ways will He direct all your paths.

You have to trust in the Lord, in His divine blood, in His promises and in His grace. My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness (II Corinthians 12:9). You have to trust in His promises and live by them or you will not be where God wants you to be.

Jesus said, Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (John 15:4,5).

The Lord has made many promises to His children; and if you abide in Him and hold on to those promises, they will be fulfilled, even if it is days, weeks or years later. The Lord’s table is spread with everything you need from Heaven; but you must truly want what God wants, or you will find yourself in a mess.

Do God’s Will

Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths (Psalm 25:4). You will find the ways of God in His Word, but do you want His ways? Some people will say they want the will of God, but they only want His way if it matches what they want.

If people don’t want the will of God, then I don’t want them to bring their questions to me. I live in the truth of God, and that is why I am free and they are not. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart (Psalm 37:4). I want the will of God no matter what it costs me.

Enoch did God’s will, and he pleased Him. Then the Lord took him to Heaven alive. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God (Hebrews 11:5). The members of the Bride will please the Lord, and they will go to Heaven the same way Enoch did.

You must believe that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). To be called according to God’s purpose means that you must be in His divine will. Then no matter what happens, you will be all right. When something comes up that you don’t understand, just say as Jesus did, Father…not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42). In His time, the Lord will explain things to you if you will walk with Him in the light and not in the night.

Jesus came to Earth as a man, but He showed us how to do God’s will and use divinity. He showed us how to put on the whole armor of God. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:13-17).

When you have done all you can to stand, then stand. That shield of faith will stop all the fiery darts of the devil, and that can actually get exciting! When the devil starts shooting, just throw up the shield of faith. Then his darts will fall in a pile that will let him know that he has to get to God before he can get to you.

Have No Fear

You must defeat the devil and serve the Lord with gladness. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing (Psalm 100:1,2). But some of you carry depression and oppression when Jesus came to take those things away. God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him (Acts 10:38).

Are you doing right before God? When you believe right, you will walk right; and when you walk right, you will receive right, so what are you worried about? You must turn your attention away from yourself and onto Jesus. Forget about your old, ugly self with its doubts, fears, oppression, depression and despair and be of good cheer. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

To be happy, you must give your whole heart to the Lord in these troublesome times; and when you are rooted and grounded in His love, your whole heart will be in it. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God (Ephesians 3:17-19). Divine faith and divine love destroy doubt; but if you don’t allow them to, you will have fear.

Peter said, Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you (I Peter 5:7). When you don’t know that the Lord cares for you, you open the door for the devil to give you a big load of fear. You will be afraid to get old, afraid you will get sick, afraid you will run out of money or afraid you are going to lose your job when you still have one. You will be afraid to live and afraid to die, and you will be a mess. The Bible says, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (II Timothy 1:7).

Take on the mind of Christ and get rid of all your fears. With Jesus, you have nothing to fear and nothing to worry about. The spirit of fear comes from the devil, and he works through that spirit; so don’t let him unload that fear on you. The Bible says, There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love (I John 4:18).

You Must Believe

When Jairus was waiting to see Jesus so he could get healing for his daughter, a messenger came and said she had died. But Jesus said, Be not afraid, only believe (Mark 5:36).

If Jairus had used common sense, he would have given up hope; but he didn’t do that, and he went with Jesus to his house. You have to walk on with Jesus, too, no matter what is going on around you.

When they arrived at Jairus’ house, it was filled with people who were crying and carrying on. Then the Lord walked in and said, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn (Mark 5:39,40). Jesus spoke with authority and told the people to leave. Then He walked over to the young girl who was supposed to have been dead, And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment (Mark 5:41,42). The girl opened her eyes, and there was Jesus.

Jesus treated death like sleep; and when you know the truth about death, that is the way you should treat it, too. You should never be afraid to go to sleep in Jesus.

That miracle wasn’t done in a corner, and God’s miracles aren’t done in a corner today, either. The Lord told me I was to go on television and show people receiving their healings. He wanted me to show Him at work, and that is what I have been doing for well over thirty years. Multitudes can see God healing, delivering and setting people free; and those who want to believe become believers in God no matter how much they may have doubted in the past. Those who continue to doubt will seal their own doom, and the Lord will leave them alone.

Believe to See

Common sense says that people don’t come back from the dead, but Jesus raised people from the dead. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was…and after that he saith unto them [the disciples], Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead (John 11:5,6,11-14). Why didn’t Jesus go right away?—because just as it was with Jairus’ daughter, He knew that Lazarus’ death was merely a sleep and that He was on time.

When Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had been dead four days; but Lazarus’ sisters didn’t understand, and Martha said, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died (John 11:21). Martha had forgotten that Jesus has all power; and Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day (John 11:23,24).

Like Martha, some of you can believe for things in the future; but you can’t believe for right now. You believe there is a Heaven to go to, but you don’t believe you can have a chunk of it now. That is why it takes faith to get things done God’s way.

When Jesus instructed that the stone be rolled away from Lazarus’ tomb, Martha said, Lord, by this time he stinketh (John 11:39). That is how we get into trouble. The Lord is about to do something great for us, and we find an earthly reason as to why it can’t happen. In Lazarus’ case, Martha was saying, “Lord, you don’t have that kind of power. You can’t bring Lazarus out of that tomb.” But Jesus knew better.

Then Jesus saith unto her [Martha], Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go (John 11:40-44).

Some of you are like Martha, and you won’t roll your stones out of the way. You excuse yourself and think you’re justified, but you are not. There is just one stone between you and your miracle, between you and your happiness, between you and pure joy, between you and pure faith, peace and love; and you need to get that stone out of the way.

God’s Secrets Revealed

Common sense does not know the mysteries of God or have the full revelation of what is taking place. The Lord spoke to me one day and said, “Think deep.” That woke me up to the fact that He wanted me to think like Him. I had never remembered reading that in the Bible; but soon after that, I found that same thing in Psalms. O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep (Psalm 92:5).

Paul let us know that we can only know the deep things of God through the Holy Ghost. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual (I Corinthians 2:11-13).

And the disciples came, and said unto him [Jesus], Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given (Matthew 13:10,11). Jesus did not want those who rejected Him to understand what He was saying, so He spoke to them in parables. However, He wanted the disciples to understand everything He said, and they had a chance to learn so much from Jesus.

We have a chance to learn all they learned and even more in this last hour, and the revelations of what God wants from us and for us are plentiful.

The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant (Psalm 25:14). God’s secrets are not revealed to those who depend on common sense but to those who fear Him and honor Him with love, faith and courage, to those who use Heaven’s language. For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20).

Receive the Spirit of Truth

It takes the Spirit of God to reveal the things of God. But God hath revealed them unto us by his [Holy] Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God (I Corinthians 2:10). That Spirit is the Holy Spirit, and He is the Spirit of truth. 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 (John 16:13).

Everyone needs the Holy Ghost today, and He speaks like Jesus did when He was on Earth as a man. Jesus said, For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak (John 12:49). When the Holy Ghost is in you, He will give you what to say and do. Jesus said, He [the Holy Ghost] shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you (John 16:14).

Jesus said the Holy Ghost would come. I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you (John 14:16,17). You must seek Him until you receive Him because you will need His help to be able to get out of here on Rapture Day.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26). Some of you make yourselves weaklings because of your wrong thinking, and that is why you must depend on the Holy Ghost. The Lord said the Holy Ghost would bring all the things that Jesus taught to your mind.

Our human thinking and reasoning will not go very far; but through the power of the Holy Ghost, we can go beyond the natural. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us (Ephesians 3:20). Notice that the power has to be inside of you before it can work.

That power was inside of Jesus because the Bible says that John the Baptist saw the Holy Spirit descend on Him. The Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased (Luke 3:22). It was inside of Paul, too; and he said, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me (Galatians 2:20).

Reason with God

If you depend on common sense, you will not reason with God; but He says, Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD (Isaiah 1:18). In this final hour, the Lord is saying, “Come, Child, I want to talk with you.”

Jesus knew the hearts of men, and He knew when people reasoned within themselves; and many times, He pointed it out to them. But when Jesus perceived their [the scribes’ and Pharisees’] thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts (Luke 5:22)? Jesus said to the disciples, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves (Matthew 16:8)?

Jesus knew that human reasoning would get people nowhere in the Lord because no one can reason heavenly things with the mere mind of man. Jesus always referred to human faith as little faith. People with little faith reason among themselves while people with divine faith reason with God and His Word.

The Pharisees and Sadducees thought in their human reasoning that it was a big deal to say that Abraham was their father, but where did that get them? Jesus said, Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham (Matthew 3:9). Just saying they were the children of Abraham was not going to take them to Heaven.

And Jesus knowing their [the scribes’] thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts (Matthew 9:4)? Do you ever think evil in your heart? If you do, Jesus knows all about it.

Many people thought Jesus was trying to destroy the Law when He was on Earth; but He said, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil (Matthew 5:17). He told the apostles, Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword [the Word of God] (Matthew 10:34).

Ego Reasons the Wrong Way

Relying on common sense or reasoning with others instead of God are sure signs that you don’t really want God’s answers. You want answers that come through human logic and don’t go beyond human reasoning.

An example of this can be found in Matthew. Jesus asked the chief priests and elders, The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet (Matthew 21:25,26). The Lord was full of wisdom, and I like the way He could back unbelievers into a corner so they didn’t know what to do.

Common sense thinking does not make you wise. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil (Proverbs 3:7). Only when you honor the Lord and depart from that which is wrong will you be all right in God’s book and not have to fear evil. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil (Psalm 23:4).

Some people reason among themselves about things that God would never reason with them about. Then there arose a reasoning among them [the disciples], which of them should be greatest (Luke 9:46). That was pure ego, and God told me one day that ego is of the devil. God cannot reason with ego, so it is no wonder the disciples reasoned among themselves. It was childish to reason about who would be the greatest.

Do you ever consider yourself to be greater than someone else? Do you see yourself as being higher or loftier than others? The Bible tells us what Jesus thought about that kind of reasoning. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great (Luke 9:47,48).

People who are full of self do not want to admit the truth, and that is why they reason among themselves and come to their own conclusions. You have to be careful not to be around the wrong people.

Wrong Reasoning Brings Deceit

Using common sense only causes people to be deceived about themselves. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain (James 1:26). And that kind of religion won’t take you to Heaven.

When carnal minds reason with carnal minds, there is no spiritual outcome. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Romans 8:6). When things don’t go the way some people think they should, they stay home from church. They say they need to get alone with God and reason things out, but they are deceiving themselves. They need to be in church when they are offended or hurt because they need to hear the Word of God. The fact that they stay home is the first sign of wrong thinking. The Bible says, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25).

Some people don’t like it when they are not the best in everything, but people can be so wrong about themselves. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself (Galatians 6:3). The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason (Proverbs 26:16). Men and women can deceive their own hearts if they want something or want to believe something badly enough. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart (Ephesians 4:18).

When you listen to the reasoning of others, you can be deceived. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived (II Timothy 3:13). That is one of the great signs of the soon coming of Jesus and the reason a lot of people act like they do. You can talk to them one time, and they believe in miracles; but the next time you talk to them, they no longer believe.

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise (I Corinthians 3:18). The world may think you are a fool because of what you believe and what you do for God, but you are not a fool in God’s eyes. You have to humble yourself before God; and in doing that, people may think you are crazy, but what they think doesn’t matter.

You must give yourself completely to the Lord in this final hour. Live close to God and don’t look at anyone who is not living holy. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace (Psalm 37:37). Reason only with God, Children. You can’t afford to be deceived in this last hour.

Let Go of Every Hindrance

Some people try to reason with God, but they have a “Benjamin”—something they won’t give up—that stands between them and God; and Jacob was an example of a person like that. Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son, and his brothers were jealous of him; so they sold him into slavery. The brothers then told their father that Joseph had been eaten by wild animals, and Jacob had never gotten over that. Over the years, Joseph had moved from being a slave boy to being second in charge under Pharaoh in Egypt.

When there was a famine in the land, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to get food; and Joseph was their contact person, although they did not recognize that it was him. Joseph told them that they could not return for any more food unless their younger brother, Benjamin, was with them.

When the brothers told Jacob that, he said, My son [Benjamin] shall not go down with you; for his brother [Joseph] is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave (Genesis 42:38).

The famine continued, and Jacob wanted his sons to go back to Egypt for more food. And Judah spake unto him [Jacob], saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you (Genesis 43:3-5).

Finally, Jacob gave up Benjamin; and when he did, he not only received more food but also found out that Joseph was alive. When the brothers returned from Egypt the second time, they said to Jacob, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die (Genesis 45:26-28). We also will be rewarded if we give up every “Benjamin.”

Live by Faith

The Bible doesn’t say the just shall live by feelings; it says, The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). Faith and common sense have nothing in common. When you live by faith, you act out the Word and embrace it with your whole heart; and you reason with God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Divine faith works only through divine love. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love (Galatians 5:6). Whatever you do for the Lord, you must do it through love. Divine love will always bow to God’s will no matter what it is, and He gives us the perfect faith we need to do that.

Faith is trusting God—who or what do you trust in? Some people trust in riches, possessions, family and friends; and the Lord is the last one they get around to putting their trust in. The disciples found themselves out on the Sea of Galilee in the midst of a horrible storm, but they were not trusting in the Lord even though Jesus was on board. They were working hard to bail water, but they were full of doubt and fear.

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he [Jesus] was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow (Mark 4:37,38). The disciples finally remembered that Jesus was there, and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith (Mark 4:38-40)?

When it looks like your boat is about to sink, do you forget Jesus is on board with you and cry, “Lord, don’t you care if I perish?” Of course, He cares; but you are not trusting in Jesus, and you’re asking Him a question you already have the answer for but won’t use it. The Bible says, Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you (I Peter 5:7).

When you won’t use the answers the Lord gives you in His Holy Bible, you are in trouble; however, the dark night will not matter when you trust God because you will know that weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

You Need the Word

If you really want to stop depending on common sense and know what is right and wrong in God’s eyes, you must study the Word. The Bible has a wonderful faith chapter in Hebrews 11, a beautiful love chapter in I Corinthians 13 and so much more; but I have never found a common sense chapter. The Bible is all about divinity.

The meat of the Word discerns good from evil. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). Strong meat here refers to the strength and power available through the Word. When people first get saved, they are babes in Christ; and they need the milk of the Word. But to continue to grow in the Lord, they need the meat of the Word.

The Word must become a part of you, and you must be a living epistle for Christ. Paul said, Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart (II Corinthians 3:2,3). You must be just like Jesus because you are the only Bible that some people will ever come in contact with.

With God’s help, you have to keep yourself under control. You cannot have fits, pout and argue—there will be none of that in Heaven. When you live by the Word, you will become a different person. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

There will be plenty of things in this life that you will not understand, but you cannot resort to using common sense or to reasoning within your own heart and with others. You will only get the right understanding and the right answers by reasoning with God through the Word. He wants to talk with His children. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord (I Corinthians 1:9).

If you are now ready to reason with the Lord, He will teach you how to do that just like an earthly father teaches his children how to reason with what he tells them. You must sincerely say, “Lord, if I am not reasoning with you in every little thing, let me know; and I will take care of it.” If you can say that and mean it, God will delight in you; and He will reason with you and let you know why some of your prayers may be going unanswered.

Accept the Savior

Sinner and Backslider, you must get ready to meet the Lord. So many people have died saying they were ready for Heaven, but it was just their common sense talking. Say this prayer right now and mean it with your whole heart: Oh, God, I confess that I am lost. I am a sinner, but I know you love me because you gave your whole heart when you gave Jesus for me. I am so sorry that I have sinned against you and Him. Forgive me, Lord; do forgive me! I believe that the blood of Jesus washes away all of my sins. Come into my heart, Jesus. Come on in!

If you meant that prayer, Jesus has come; and He is yours.

Believe and Receive

Now, it is time to be healed. Common sense will tell you that can’t happen; but when you reason with God, miracles do happen. The very definition of the word “miracle” tells us it is an event that is unexplainable by the laws of nature or is an act of God.

Common sense says that when you get an incurable disease, you will die; but God says if you will use faith, you will live. 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 (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God (Luke 18:27). People who don’t believe in miracles don’t believe in God.

Common sense is based on what man has seen to be true, but divine faith is based on things not seen. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

You can receive a miracle today, but you must serve God. Jesus healed sinners, but then He told them to go and sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee (John 5:14). It is not the will of God for you to suffer with diseases and afflictions. He said, I am the LORD that healeth thee (Exodus 15:26).

Jesus came to Earth with healing in His wings. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings (Malachi 4:2). And He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Now, get ready for your miracle. Lord, here they are—some have AIDS, and others have cancer, diabetes, heart trouble or other incurable diseases. Lord, there are little babies who have been born deformed, many of them with just part of a brain; but you can make them into intelligent little beings. Heal! in the blood name of Jesus. Heal! in the almighty, blood name.

If you accept that prayer, your diseases will flee from your bodies. Watch yourself and your little ones get well, and then write or email and tell me about it. I will rejoice with you.

Remember, with the Spirit of the living God, He writes His Word upon our hearts. Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart (II Corinthians 3:3).