Abstract Foolishness

 

Nicodemus, a Pharisee, a leader of the Jews, perhaps naturally curious but certainly spiritually led, came to Jesus under the cover of night (John 3:1-2), after all, to do so in daylight hours would have jeopardised his position as a sitting member of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish authority.

Nicodemus addressed Jesus as “Rabbi”, His earthly moniker, knowing deep within that there was more to the carpenter’s identity as possibly someone far greater.

Eager to tap into this Rabbi’s divine wisdom, he continued,

“we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.”

“Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” – John 3:3 (NRSVUE)

Thoroughly confused by Jesus’ statement, Nicodemus questioned, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” (v 4)

“Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. (v 5-6)

Jesus answered with words that far exceeded the capacity of Nicodemus’ human understanding. To him it was abstract foolishness.

Unsurprisingly, many people today view God’s word as abstract foolishness. They think it’s irrational, illogical and like Nicodemus, they question the validity of it.

Apostle Paul explains,

the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. – 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)

Jesus spoke to Nicodemus in spiritual words, and although he was a religious leader, he did not truly believe thereby making Jesus’ words indiscernible to his carnal mind.

Though unable to understand, Nicodemus was still deeply moved because God created all human beings with ears to hear the plan of salvation before we are born from above. Some are moved by it but sadly there are those who simply ignore it.

Unless we are given spiritual ears, it’s impossible to understand spiritual things, yet even after we have received the ability to hear, we still do not listen.

Some Christians are of the opinion that the Bible, which contains God’s written word (logos) is the only source of His instructions, but God also speaks outside the pages of the bible. He spoke then and speaks now.

How will Spirit teach us “all things” and guide us into “all truth” if He has no voice?

How can we obey the voice of God if He has no voice?

Beloved, God speaks.

The exhortation to listen to the Holy Spirit found in Matthew 17:5 is only one of the verses that prove this truth, the bible is littered with passages that speak of hearing the voice of God.

God wants all believers to hear Him clearly, but we have to be listening.

Remember, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17)

The original Greek word used for “word” in this verse is “rhema” which depicts a “flow” from God’s mouth.

Rhema implies a specific word spoken by God with an applied purpose. A word that God imparts personally and has a practical and immediate function. When you receive a personal word of instruction from God, that is a rhema word.

The rhema of God can be received in several ways.

For instance, it can come as an audible voice that you literally hear from His mouth into your ear, or from a person relaying a message from God into your life, or the sense of being spoken to while reading the Word (logos).

God has His ways of speaking to us but without those spiritual ears we will not hear Him.

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God – Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)

Every Bethel at Balata blog post contains verses from the written Word of God, both the Old and New Testaments, as they appear in the bible. In the Old Testament, we find the word of the Lord which was spoken through the prophets, while in the New Testament, the word of God is primarily the Good News of Jesus Christ and the apprehension of the Kingdom of God in and through Him, but every word written is entirely God’s truth (ref. John 17:17). It is the truth of His Kingdom, truth by which we ought to be living.

The prophets of the Old Testament were able to discern the spiritual because God had given them the ability to see beyond the limitations of man’s vision (ref. Amos 3:7).

In New Testament times of which we are a part, God has done a new thing, in that even though we are not prophets, He has also given us the ability to see beyond our human limitations but has gone further than that by giving us access to not only see the Kingdom of God but to enter the Kingdom of God.

The caveat, you must be born again to see and to enter.

This is Truth, Kingdom Truth, not abstract foolishness.

Beloved, seeing the word is not enough, you must enter it by putting it into practice. If you believe His Word, then you must live His Word. If you believe His Word, then you must speak it over and into your life. But the problem is with believing. You must believe before you see.

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe. – John 20:29 (NRSVUE)

You must accept and believe who God says you are in Christ and walk in it, own it and live it.

It’s time that you stop rehearsing negative thoughts and accommodating idle self-talk because that is abstract foolishness. Replace it with whatever God has spoken over your life until it consumes your thoughts and permeates your life.

The beauty of God’s written Word (logos) is that you can convert it to His spoken Word (rhema) by speaking it over your life. That’s a way you can start.

Beloved, if you do not truly grasp this, even if you start the process, you will quit at some point especially if you don’t begin to experience its benefits in what you may consider a timely manner. So, pray that you will be able to grasp just how powerful this process is and the many benefits it will bring into your life.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Abstract Foolishness” ©2026 January 22, 2026