“Do not cite the Deep Magic to me… I was there when it was written.“
This quote from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (by C.S. Lewis) has always been fascinating to me. And since i’m teaching out of the book of Colossians right now, it reminds me that there are many people, entire sects and institutions, who look at the Bible and claim authority to teach from it, but for whom the clear meaning of the Bible and it’s “deep magic” is actually unknown, fully misunderstood. They look at it and cannot see what it’s saying to us.
Lewis’ character Aslan goes on to explain this in the book:
“though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know.”
Which reminds us that Paul the Apostle said “we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7-9)
The Bible indicates that Paul is speaking of unseen rulers of darkness in the unseen realm – who did not understand what God was planning to do through Christ’s sacrifice on that Roman Cross. And there is so much embedded in this statement that boggles the mind. There is hidden wisdom in the Bible which requires faith, a trust in God through Jesus, that opens the mind to understand this “hidden wisdom”. Those who do not have that faith cannot see, hear or understand that hidden wisdom. They are blind to it, as the rulers of darkness are.
Like Aslan says in the story, there is a level of which some people can understand, and there is a deeper level which they miss entirely.
Seeing they do not perceive. Hearing they do not comprehend. Why? so that their hardened hearts will be hardened more. Literally so that they cannot believe.
So what? How does this affect us?
1st, we are called to humble ourselves before God and learn to trust His word.
2nd we are called to exercise what we are given, so that we don’t lose it. “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”
Faith is a gift, which we are called to walk in, exercise, practice life with. That Faith is tied to the word of God. That faith is about trusting and depending on the power and presence of God, entirely.
When we use it, when we walk in it, when we trust Jesus fully, we get more and that faith grows. And the working of the Spirit in us grows, and the awareness of God’s Hidden Mysteries grows. The eyes of our hearts become enlightened more and more.
When you became saved, you were given spiritual gifts. Have you learned to walk in them? Are you exercising them for the building up of the church? Are you learning to be faithful to use them? Do you practice so that you may be effective for the Kingdom?
If not, you are losing those gifts. The calling to use them never fades, but your ability to faithfully walk empowered by them fades.
What can you do today to pick up your walk with Jesus and turn that around? How can you start living out your faith in supernatural power? Prayer, walking in trust by using what you have, and consistently staying in the Word is the answer. Use what little you have. Be faithful, faith filled and faith driven.
Do you want more from Jesus? To the one who has, more will be given.
What Deep Magic?
This quote from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (by C.S. Lewis) has always been fascinating to me. And since i’m teaching out of the book of Colossians right now, it reminds me that there are many people, entire sects and institutions, who look at the Bible and claim authority to teach from it, but for whom the clear meaning of the Bible and it’s “deep magic” is actually unknown, fully misunderstood. They look at it and cannot see what it’s saying to us.
Lewis’ character Aslan goes on to explain this in the book:
“though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know.”
Which reminds us that Paul the Apostle said “we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7-9)
The Bible indicates that Paul is speaking of unseen rulers of darkness in the unseen realm – who did not understand what God was planning to do through Christ’s sacrifice on that Roman Cross. And there is so much embedded in this statement that boggles the mind. There is hidden wisdom in the Bible which requires faith, a trust in God through Jesus, that opens the mind to understand this “hidden wisdom”. Those who do not have that faith cannot see, hear or understand that hidden wisdom. They are blind to it, as the rulers of darkness are.
Like Aslan says in the story, there is a level of which some people can understand, and there is a deeper level which they miss entirely.
Seeing they do not perceive. Hearing they do not comprehend. Why? so that their hardened hearts will be hardened more. Literally so that they cannot believe.
So what? How does this affect us?
1st, we are called to humble ourselves before God and learn to trust His word.
2nd we are called to exercise what we are given, so that we don’t lose it. “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”
Faith is a gift, which we are called to walk in, exercise, practice life with. That Faith is tied to the word of God. That faith is about trusting and depending on the power and presence of God, entirely.
When we use it, when we walk in it, when we trust Jesus fully, we get more and that faith grows. And the working of the Spirit in us grows, and the awareness of God’s Hidden Mysteries grows. The eyes of our hearts become enlightened more and more.
When you became saved, you were given spiritual gifts. Have you learned to walk in them? Are you exercising them for the building up of the church? Are you learning to be faithful to use them? Do you practice so that you may be effective for the Kingdom?
If not, you are losing those gifts. The calling to use them never fades, but your ability to faithfully walk empowered by them fades.
What can you do today to pick up your walk with Jesus and turn that around? How can you start living out your faith in supernatural power? Prayer, walking in trust by using what you have, and consistently staying in the Word is the answer. Use what little you have. Be faithful, faith filled and faith driven.
Do you want more from Jesus? To the one who has, more will be given.
Learn more about our new book “The Jesus Adventure – Journey to Spiritual Freedom“
Published in Commentary, Fellowship of Believers, Media, Prepared Warriors, Teaching and The Jesus Adventure