Tuesday, May 29, 2012

WE CAN KNOW THE LIVING WORD OF GOD!

One of the greatest elements of truly being Jesus' disciple is to know how to properly read, spiritually digest, and accurately apply God's word, the Bible. Jesus gave us a major key to open the Scriptures:

John 5:37 And the Father Who sent Me has Himself testified concerning Me. Not one of you has ever given ear to His voice or seen His form (His face--what He is like). [You have always been deaf to His voice and blind to the vision of Him.]

38 And you have not His word (His thought) living in your hearts, because you do not believe and adhere to and trust in and rely on Him Whom He has sent. [That is why you do not keep His message in you, because you do not believe in the One Whom He has sent.]

39 You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me!

40 And still you are not willing [but refuse] to come to Me, so that you might have life.

Jesus wanted His disciples to focus on His word through Himself, the eternal Word of God, personally and relationally by His lifegiving Spirit! Head knowledge of the Scriptures is not what God desires, but true heart knowledge of the Author through reading and meditating on the content of His eternal word is what He has for us. Just before the above text in John 5, Jesus had already shared the vital nature of seeing Him in His fullness and hearing Him in the substance of His word, the Bible:

23 So that all men may give honor (reverence, homage) to the Son just as they give honor to the Father. [In fact] whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, Who has sent Him.

24 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trust in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life.

This is such a vital point for us to realize, then internalize, and then practice! Seeing Jesus in His word is the starting point of developing our relationship with Him, as well as gaining greater knowledge of Him. These together become true revelation knowledge and wisdom over time. This combination of relationship and knowledge never stands against deep study of the Bible, but flows with it, as Paul reminds us in his 2nd letter to Timothy:

3:12 Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand].

13 But wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others and being deceived and led astray themselves.

14 But as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned [them].

15 And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].

16 Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action).

17 So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

4:1 I CHARGE [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom:

2 Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.

3 For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,

4 And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.

3 As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry.

Timothy's development spiritually as a disciple and as a minister of the Lord, always involved growth in knowing and living God's word. Paul recognized the depth and pervasiveness of deception that already flourished in his day, even as the true believers and churches were being persecuted. The apostle described persecution and deception as environmental factors believers must be prepared to face, by being strong in the word of God.

Paul also commended Timothy for the layers and levels of understanding he had gained in his own growth through childhood into his adult years, learning all the Scriptures leading to salvation in Jesus. His proclamation, that the Bible is God-breathed and totally sufficient in every matter pertaining to life and godliness, rings down through the ages.

The great apostle went on to challenge Timothy and all who would lead the flock of God, to become fully equipped and truly proficient in handling God's word in every situation. Paul's challenge to Timothy did not stop with him fully knowing the Scriptures, but he went further to charge him (and us) in the presence of our heavenly Father and His Son, to preach, to correct, to encourage and to warn, with all the patience of a true spiritual parent.

This charge was made by Paul, who knew fully that the people would rather hear errors, things pleasing to their sin natures, and man-made fables! Timothy and all of us who sense God's calling to ministry must heed this charge, not be intimidated or deceived, but be willing to teach in spite of resistance, and to preach even to the most hostile audience, if led by the Holy Spirit!

We must ever be students of God's word, the Bible, willing when it is convenient and when it is quite inconvenient, to speak of, teach, and even preach if called by our Lord to do so!

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