Spiritual transmitter, Spiritual receiver

When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

(Matthew 16:5-12)

A times,the main reason why so many believers misunderstand God's message is simply because they receive it with an earthly or fleshly receptor.

Let me illustrate it with a common example:' In the realm of tele-communication a transmitter is a tool sending out a message while a receiver is another tool that receives it. TV stations such as SABC,Fox,CNN have transmitters while your own TV at home has an receiver. You cannot receive messages from TV channel stations with your microwave even if you tried harder.

In the case of the disciples,Jesus was speaking from a spiritual level and they had to receive His message with a spiritual understanding but they received it with an earthly understanding influenced by their stomach. It is impossible to interpret a Heavenly message through the lens our physical senses. And even worse, it is dangerous to practice a command from Heaven with an understanding led by physical senses. Whoever attempts to practice the will of God through their physical senses will surely miss their destiny.

The reason why attempts to practice the will of God through physical senses will always fail is because of the consultative priority we give to our natural senses. Those who are led by their physical senses also consult them first before attempting to obey God.

For example,after hearing from God, a racist person would consult his/her racist lens first before making a move.Or a person attached to his'her material possession would consult his/her attachment lenses before obeying God as it was the case of the young rich ruler (reference Mark 10:17-27).

The children of Israel failed to enter the promised land because they analyzed God's command through the lens of their natural fear forgetting what He had done for them against Egypt.

Paul wrote in Romans 10:17: 'Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God'

Therefore, how would faith increase in us if we don't hear God properly or if our hearing comes from our physical senses and realities?

When Jesus spoke in Matthew 16:5-12, the disciples heard Him from their physical senses and realities and this is not faith. This explains why Jesus complains by mentioning 'how little was their faith'.

Jesus warning was not a word from an earthly baker or restaurateur but a word from above, from God.