Teaching summary
In this teaching, Pastors Leonard and Lori Rola explain how Jesus grew in wisdom and understanding by discovering what was written about Him in Scripture. They reveal that God placed identifying “markers” throughout the Word for Jesus—and for believers today—to find and believe. These markers define who we truly are in Christ, such as loved, righteous, holy, healed, and complete. The message encourages believers to renew their minds, agree with God’s truth, and live from what Christ has already accomplished.
Bible verses referenced
Luke 2:52- “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
1 Corinthians 13:11- “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
Luke 4:17–21- “And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
And he closed the book, gave it back to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all those who were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
Hebrews 10:7- “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”
2 Peter 1:3- “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”
Romans 12:2- “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
John 17:23- “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
1 John 4:10- “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Ephesians 3:15–19- “Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.
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 fullness of God.”
Romans 5:5- “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
Romans 5:8- “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:1- “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 8:30- “Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
2 Corinthians 5:21- “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Colossians 1:12- “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.”
Ephesians 4:23–24- “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Hebrews 10:14- “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”
Ephesians 4:13- “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 8:9- “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
Luke 12:32- “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
1 Corinthians 2:16- “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
Romans 8:11- “But if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
1 John 4:17- “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”
Ephesians 1:19- “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.”
Ephesians 3:20- “Now unto him that can do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”
Teaching notes
Table of Contents
- Opening Worship and the Heart of Gratitude
- The Title and Foundation: Find Where It Is Written
- Jesus Growing in Wisdom and Understanding
- From Childish Thinking to Spiritual Maturity
- Jesus Finding His Identity in Scripture
- The Volume of the Book Written About Him
- Markers Placed by God in the Word
- Alf and Tav: Jesus Hidden in the Old Testament
- Why These Markers Matter for Believers
- The First Marker: You Are Loved
- The Second Marker: You Are Righteous
- The Third Marker: You Are Holy
- Sanctified and Perfect Through One Sacrifice
- Rich, Wise, and Complete in Christ
- Healed by the Same Spirit That Raised Jesus
- Living From Agreement, Not Effort
- Final Exhortation and Prayer
Opening Worship and the Heart of Gratitude
Pastor Leonard opens the service with joyful worship and thanksgiving, praising God for Jesus, salvation, family, healing, and life itself. He shares personal testimonies of healing from cancer and other serious illnesses, emphasizing that praise naturally flows from recognizing God’s goodness. The atmosphere is one of gratitude, expectancy, and reliance on the Holy Spirit, acknowledging that true revelation does not come from human reasoning but from God Himself.
The Title and Foundation: Find Where It Is Written
Pastor Leonard introduces the message title: “Find Where It Is Written,” also referred to as “A Child No More.” He explains that the Holy Spirit led him to this teaching through Scripture and that this message reveals something many believers have never heard before. The central idea is that Jesus discovered who He was and what He was sent to do by finding what was written about Him in God’s Word.
Jesus Growing in Wisdom and Understanding
The foundation verse is Luke 2:52:
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
Pastor Leonard explains that Jesus did not grow in God’s favor because He was always the beloved Son. Instead, He grew in His understanding and consciousness of that favor. Grace and love are inseparable—love motivates, and grace expresses that love. Jesus advanced in wisdom by progressively cutting through revelation, much like carving a path through a jungle.
From Childish Thinking to Spiritual Maturity
Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:11 are used to show the transition from childish thinking to spiritual maturity:
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
Pastor Leonard explains that childish thinking is living by the senses and the flesh. Spiritual maturity requires putting away this mindset and seeing ourselves through Christ, God’s mirror.
Jesus Finding His Identity in Scripture
Jesus’ public ministry began when He found Himself in Scripture. Pastor Leonard reads Luke 4:17–21 in full, showing how Jesus intentionally found “the place where it was written” about Him. After reading Isaiah, Jesus declared, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” At that moment, He stepped into agreement with God’s Word and launched His ministry.
The Volume of the Book Written About Him
Hebrews confirms this truth in Hebrews 10:7:
“Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”
Pastor Leonard explains that the Old Testament contained markers identifying Jesus’ purpose. The God part of Jesus knew everything, but the human part of Jesus had to grow in revelation through Scripture so His soul could agree with His spirit.
Markers Placed by God in the Word
God placed identifying markers throughout Scripture so Jesus could find them and renew His mind. As Jesus grew, His soul came into agreement with what the Father had written. This same process applies to believers today. Growth comes by finding what God has written about us and believing it.
Alf and Tav: Jesus Hidden in the Old Testament
Pastor Leonard explains the Hebrew letters Alf and Tav—the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In ancient Hebrew, Alf symbolized a bull (sacrifice), and Tav symbolized a cross. These letters appear over 7,000 times in the Old Testament as an untranslated marker. Every time there is a type or shadow of Christ—creation, the burning bush, the brazen serpent, the rock in the wilderness, Rahab’s scarlet thread, Abraham’s ram—Alf and Tav appear, silently pointing to Jesus.
Why These Markers Matter for Believers
God placed these markers for Jesus, but also for us. If Jesus grew in understanding by finding what was written about Him, believers are meant to do the same. We are spirit beings with perfect spirits, but our minds must be renewed to agree with what is already true.
The First Marker: You Are Loved
The most important marker is love. Pastor Leonard emphasizes John 17:23:
“I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
He also cites 1 John 4:10 and Ephesians 3:15–19, showing that believers must grow in the understanding of how deeply they are loved. Guilt, shame, and condemnation come from not knowing this truth.
The Second Marker: You Are Righteous
Under the new covenant, believers are righteous. Pastor Leonard reads Romans 5:1, Romans 8:30, and 2 Corinthians 5:21, showing that righteousness is a gift, not something earned. Righteousness qualifies believers to receive all of God’s blessings.
The Third Marker: You Are Holy
Believers are holy, not by striving, but by believing. Ephesians 4:23–24 teaches that holiness flows from renewing the mind. Right believing leads to right living.
Sanctified and Perfect Through One Sacrifice
Using Hebrews 10:14, Pastor Leonard explains that believers are already sanctified and perfected forever through Christ’s sacrifice. Sanctification is not a process we achieve—it is a finished work we believe.
Rich, Wise, and Complete in Christ
Believers are rich, not just spiritually but in provision. 2 Corinthians 8:9 and Luke 12:32 affirm God’s desire to bless His children. Believers are also wise because 1 Corinthians 2:16 declares we have the mind of Christ.
Healed by the Same Spirit That Raised Jesus
Healing is another marker. Pastor Leonard reads Romans 8:11, explaining how this truth sustained him through terminal cancer. The same Spirit that raised Jesus dwells in believers and restores their bodies. He shares powerful testimonies of healing, including his own and Pastor Lori’s.
Living From Agreement, Not Effort
True transformation comes by agreeing with God’s markers, not striving to earn them. Pastor Leonard references 1 John 4:17, emphasizing, “As He is, so are we in this world.” Believers must unlearn the lie that God cannot and rediscover the truth that God can and does.
Final Exhortation and Prayer
The message concludes by encouraging believers to find where it is written about them, renew their minds, and live from God’s truth. Pastor Leonard prays for healing, freedom, and revelation, declaring that God can, God does, and God will.
We hope this article blessed you and encouraged you to discover God’s markers for your life. If this teaching spoke to you, please share it with others so they, too, can grow in the understanding of God’s grace, love, and power.