Latest Followers:
Recently Rated:
The Bible and the Holy Ghost
One of the first to add commentary to the New Testament Scriptures was the Roman Catholic papacy. They didn’t want members of their “church”, whether priest or laity, believing anything other than what the Church of Rome taught. In doing so they rejected the authority of the Scriptures and the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. But it is not just the Church of Rome who have taken it upon themselves to interpret the Scriptures for their own gain; the Scribes and Pharisees had done the same.
Cults like the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses have their own ways of safeguarding their followers from the truth. Those wanting to influence others with their “interpretation” of Scripture have found that the easiest way to do so is to include their own commentary alongside scripture. A prime example of this was the Scofield Bible. From the very beginning that “old serpent” has sought to corrupt the word of God - “Hath God said?” Satan, unable to corrupt the Living Word, came after the written word; interspersing his venomous lies here and there in the hope that unguarded souls wouldn’t notice.
The Scriptures need no commentary other than that supplied by the Holy Ghost, for He is both the inspirer and interpreter of Scripture. Those who imagine that the Holy Spirit needs their help to correctly interpret Scripture have never submitted to the authority of scripture, indeed, have never submitted to its Author.
Trusting in someone’s interpretation, especially a commentary on the pages of Scripture, may lead the reader into error, even into heresy. At best it will fix in the mind a specific “interpretation” of those passages and may hinder revelation from the Holy Spirit. Non-reliance on the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth is by far the greatest danger of in-line Bible commentaries.
“It is the Inward Master that Teacheth, it is Christ that Teacheth, it is Inspiration that Teacheth: Where this Inspiration and Unction is wanting, it is in vain that Words from without are beaten in.” - Augustine.
“Nevertheless our full Persuasion and Assurance of the Infallible Truth thereof [the Scriptures], is from the inward Work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the Word in our Hearts.” - Westminster Confession of Faith (Chap. 1. Sect. 5).
———————————————
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
II Peter 1:21
“O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”
Luke 24:25-27
“Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 16:27
“God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”
I Corinthians 2:9-11
It may surprise you to learn that “Thy Word” is mentioned thirty-six times in Psalm 119. Which accounts for one fifth (or 20%) of the entire Psalm.
[Word: אִמְרָה (fem. אֶמְרָה), “spoken word” or “commandment”.]
“Thy Word” is central to the Psalm 119 and, therefore, of very great importance to the Psalmist. On a numbers of occasions the Psalmist also uses the phrase “quicken me according to Thy Word”. The Hebrew writer says, “For the Word (Logos) of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (Heb. 4:12-13).
The Word (Logos) of God is living (quick) and powerful. The Word (Logos) of God is God (John 1:1). Everything that was made (created) was created by Him (John 1:3).
It is essential therefore, that we hear His quickening Word. It is essential also that we preach His quickening Word - that when we open our mouths to preach, His living Word is uttered by us. Because “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (ῥῆμα spoken) of God.” (Rom. 10:17) “…and how shall they hear without a preacher.” (Rom. 10:14)
The Psalmist frequently (on eight occasions) uses the phrase “accordIng to Thy Word.” How he trusted in the Lord’s Word, the Word of God. Clearly his faith was most truly in it. Mary believed the word of God that was brought to her by the messenger, who told her, “with God nothing shall be impossible.” Her response was, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”.
For the Word of God to be effectual it must be spoken forth out of a pure heart, and a sanctified life. A vessel of honour that is fit for the Master’s use. (See II Timothy 2:21-22)
This is what the Church of Jesus Christ needs right now - sanctified people bringing the Word of God; in prophesy and preaching. The life-giving Word of God, untainted by men and the world, creating faith in the hearts of those who hear.
Never think that because our sins were forgiven that they are covered; they are not. Covering of sin was an Old Covenant dispensation until the time of reformation (Heb. 9:10). Rather sin is now out in the open because "light is come into the world" (John 3:19), and we must come to the light - “for that which makes manifest is light”.
Fellowship with the Father and with His Son is a moment by moment walking "in the light as He is in the light", whereby we are washed in the blood of the Lamb from all sin and unrighteousness. Such is a state of utter reliance and dependence on the ”once and for all” sacrifice of Jesus Christ. If for one moment we step out of the light, we walk out of fellowship and into the darkness of sin, where there is neither cleansing nor covering.
Weary of all this wordy strife,
These notions, forms, and modes, and names,
To Thee, the way, the Truth, the Life,
Whose love my simple heart inflames,
Divinely taught, at last I fly,
With Thee and Thine to live and die.
Forth from the midst of Babel brought,
Parties and sects I cast behind;
Enlarged my heart, and free my thought,
Where'er the latent truth I find,
The latent truth with joy to own,
And bow to Jesus' name alone.
Redeem'd by Thine almighty grace,
I taste my glorious liberty,
With open arms the world embrace,
But cleave to those who cleave to Thee;
But only in Thy saints delight,
Who walk with God in purest white.
One with the little flock I rest,
The members sound who hold the head.
The chosen few, with pardon blest
And by th' anointing Spirit led
Into the mind that was in Thee
Into the depths of Deity.
My brethren, friends, and kinsmen these
Who do my heavenly Father's will;
Who aim at perfect holiness,
And all Thy counsels to fulfil,
Athirst to be whate'er Thou art,
And love their God with all their heart.
For these, howe'er in flesh disjoin'd,
Where'er dispersed o'er earth abroad,
Unfeign'd, unbounded love I find
And constant as the life of God
Fountain of life, from thence it sprung,
As pure, as even, and as strong.
Join'd to the hidden church unknown,
In this sure bond of perfectness;
Obscurely safe, I dwell alone
And glory in th' uniting grace,
To me, to each believer given,
To all Thy saints in earth and heaven.
Charles Wesley
Jesus was in the centre of God's will during His entire life, and still is. If He is in us He will direct us into the very centre of God's will for us; but He must take us to the Cross in order to get us there (Galatians 2:20).
“If you will believe you shall see the glory of God”.
This promise specifically referred to the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John Chapter 11). It is the promise of Him who not only raised the dead, but was raised from the dead. If we will believe, we too will see the glory of God. The resurrection power of God has not diminished. Jesus declared,
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)
Do you believe this?
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:25-29
The powers that be are being shaken and have been since Christ was crucified. You may recall that as a consequence of Jesus’ death, many [Old Testament] saints where made alive and rose from the dead (Matthew 27:50-53). Those saints no doubt heard the “voice” that speaks and rose from their graves (see John Chp. 11). The sacrificial death of the Lamb of God not only made it possible from those who believe in Jesus Christ to be saved from sin, but the resurrection of that Lamb now enthroned above every name that is named, far above every principality and power, exerts His authority over His enemies - “… this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.” Hebrews 10:12-13.
Jesus has all authority in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28:18), and He is exercising that authority right now, and will until “he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.” I Corinthians 15:24.
The question is - are we hearing Him that speaks from heaven? Are we seeing the removal of those things that can be shaken? But more importantly, are we in that kingdom which cannot be moved?