The Old Covenant was of the letter and was made obsolete at or by the cross, in either case, by the time the Spirit came in a new way at Pentecost.
The New Covenant came in, by, and with the Spirit at Pentecost.
The Old Covenant was of the letter – a matter of words.
The New Covenant was, and is, of the Spirit – a matter of the Spirit.
The problem comes when we try to reduce to words what can only happen in and by the Spirit. This takes us back in time to the letter – even letters that kill, and away from the Spirit who gives life.
I believe this is what happened early on after Pentecost, like within the first 100 years, for instance, The self appointed experts tried to reduce to words what had happened in the Spirit and the result was the Dark Ages. Now as then, our feeble attempts to reduce the work of The Spirit to words always takes us to the “Dark Side.”
If we can only take the time to discern whether or not a person is in a Spiritual place to receive our verbal communication or attempts to communicate where we might be in the Spirit, then it is better to wait until a more opportune time – You know, kind of like what Jesus did at The Last Supper – “I have more to say to you, but you are not yet ready to receive it…”
- By Jay Ferris, originally posted February 2012
Loving Like God 
I guess we could say the same thing about one or more of the disciples, who I get the sense (thanks, Chosen series :-)) were carrying around little scrollbooks, recording some of Jesus’ words on the spot. Later they felt it important to ‘put it out there,’ as well.
But in person-to-person relationships, discernment is desired. Of course, sometimes God uses immature loud-mouths in donkey clothes. (myself included) But I’m guessing He’d much rather speak through people who are speaking in sensitivity, and love. I’d certainly like to be one of those people. :-)
warez the fun in that heehaw
If we can only take the time to discern whether or not a person is in a Spiritual place to receive our verbal communication or attempts to communicate where we might be in the Spirit, then it is better to wait until a more opportune time – You know, kind of like what Jesus did at The Last Supper – “I have more to say to you, but you are not yet ready to receive it…”
That’s kind of a strange thing to say on a blog, isn’t it? A blog just casts something out there and leaves it to be found – some will receive it – some will herald the writer a heretic. I’ve figured that the same Jesus who walked boldly up to me and introduced Himself, can do whatever He wants – lead someone to what I’ve written or blind them to it. If I had to discern whether someone was ready to receive what the Lord has shown me, I wouldn’t be saying much – because I seem to be surrounded by blind fools in this age. Save a few precious friends. Everyone else seems to know everything. Least ways, that seems like this generation at this time. Expertise by Google … ;^)