The Book


105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Psalms 119:105 (NASB)


We had a quiz in my class yesterday and above the groans of all in the room, I heard Josh(a young classmate of mine) boom out "I don't have a prayer!" Well, after the quiz we were allowed to grade each other's paper and just as Josh said, he didn't have a prayer!(smile) So, as the class progressed, the professor, stressing over his students' poor performance I imagine, asked a question. Rather straightforwardly he asked us what was giving us problems. Josh immediately spoke up and answered, "I'm just not very good in language." Our professor, trying to encourage him replied "that's not true" and so the banter went back and forth for a couple minutes before Josh was asked point blank "What's giving you trouble? Show me in the book." At this point Josh sheepishly replied "I can't, I don't have a book." The professor replied very calmly and cooly "Josh, how do you expect to learn French if you don't have a French book?" That interchange reminded me of something I had heard over the last few days. A big time, respected man of God recently said on his show that the overwhelming majority of American christians were biblically illiterate. Now, I don't know whether that is true or not and I don't have the right to scold anyone for their Bible reading habits.Amen? But, allow me to share some of my thoughts with you today. O.K.?


You know there are a lot of voices in the world today. Political voices, economic voices, cultural voices but no where and I mean NOWHERE are there more voices than in the religious arena.Those voices come in all sizes, shapes and persuasions. You feel me? You know I used to put a lot of stock in revelation, prophecy,words of knowledge and such. Not so much anymore, BUT,understand that's just me. God can speak anyway He wants to. For example, He spoke to a man through a donkey one time(Numbers 22:28). Another time He spoke by a supernatural handwriting on a wall(Daniel 5:5) God can choose to speak in any way and at anytime He so desires. That being said, with all the voices flying about these days it pays us to "test the spirits."


1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:1 (NASB)


How does one go about testing the spirits? The best and in my opinion, the ONLY way is to see if they line up with what God's Word says. You have to read the Book. Amen? You have to study God's Word.


15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
2 Tim 2:15 (NASB)


I like the KJV better here.


15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Tim 2:14-15 (KJV)


You see in the old days God spoke through the mouths of prophets, holy Men of God; but, today He has given us a more sure word of prophecy:

19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
2 Peter 1:19 (NASB)


What the Apostle Peter is saying here is that these written words, these scriptures are based on eyewitness accounts.(vs.16) They make the prophetic word more sure. But, look at the middle of that verse, " to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place,"


You see the only way to discern these voices is to "pay attention" to the Book. If the words of any voice, my voice included, do not line up with God's Word..reject it. It's that simple. The only way to find guidance for your life is to read the Book. But, you know something? There's another, even better benefit to spending some time in The Book. It get's us alone with God Almighty. It helps us to tune in to what He is saying in our personal lives. He can speak to us generally through His written word but He can also quicken our spirits when we come across a verse meant specifically for us, at that very point in time of our lives. You know what I mean don't you? You know how you will read a verse and you get a stirring in your inward parts. You 'know that you know' that the Holy Spirit is speaking to you through His word. No one has to tell you, YOU KNOW IT! Amen? That's what I'm talking about and that is what gets us talking and listening to Him.God sent and still sends preachers to speak and teach and preach His word. O.K.? BUT, He also wants to speak and teach and preach to us PERSONALLY. He wants some one on one. His will is revealed in His Word. You gotta have the Book
.

Brothers and sisters these are troubling times... Dark, perilous, sinister times. Deceivers, counterfeits and abusers ABOUND. It's a mark of the days in which we live. There's only ONE safe harbor for your soul...it's the Lord Jesus Christ. But, in order to hear and learn about Him. In order to be comforted and encouraged by Him. In order to know Him.. you gotta have the Book.


3 For what does the Scripture say?

Romans 4:2-3 (NASB)


39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;
John 5:39 (NASB)



God Bless