We talked today about the weakening of our belief in the sufficiency of Scripture (Bonhoeffer) and our lack of diligent study (Spurgeon) and our allowing or adding the wisdom of the world to influence our beliefs and positions. We must again fully and enthusiastically embrace the Bible as God’s wisdom given to mankind!
Secondly, we must also be careful to rightly divide Scripture. That is, all Scripture is given by God and profitable (II Timothy 3:16), but it is not all written directly to me or us. Some was written directly to the apostles – those 12 that Jesus personally chose, taught and empowered (Mark 3:12). Note this in John 14:26: But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. This was said to the twelve and is a prophecy about the coming of the New Testament. There is a secondary truth for us, but the direct application was to the twelve.
Another part of the message was about grappling with the whole of the Bible. Be a student of truths of suffering, sacrifice, forgiving, wrath, predestination and election, Hell, submission and injustice. Carefully consider each and develop a right response and defense. Be as those noted in I Peter 1:10, the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time… We need to be serious students of ALL the Bible. There are great truths to know. Colossians 2:2-3, attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Part four, which was not addressed this AM, has to do with the timing and tone when using the Bible. Sometimes silence is yellow, sometimes smart. Too much or too little is important. The Word must be employed but with wisdom.
Part five is that God’s Word must be lived – applied. To claim the Bible as God’s Word, to claim to be a faithful student and to preach, teach and talk the Word and then to not personally live it is mockery – hypocrisy. The follower must be doer (James 1:22). Let the Word change, modify, correct and direct life – all aspects! The Word is to be a lamp and a light for life (Psalm 119:105).
Part of the message this morning was again addressing the role of women in the church. God the Spirit is a model for women (I wrote this in the musing, Women: Be and Do, sent out Friday). We again addressed the speaking and authority of women in the church as noted in I Timothy 2.
Part of the message was addressing the Asbury “revival” currently happening in KY. We often get wound up in external, emotional things when God is about the heart – noted in the opening verses of I Corinthians 13, the “Love Chapter”. We readily take note of great oratory (smooth and powerful preachers), those with wisdom or insights (find nuances and make keen applications) and those who sacrifice much. Each of these can be notable and wonderfully used by God only if the heart is genuine before God!
I find it interesting that somehow we think that we can bottle up the Spirit and His doings and bring such an event here. What did Jesus say of the ways and workings of the Spirit? The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes, John 3:8. If the Spirit wills such here or there – it is His prerogative.
The message was about making sure the lines on your road of life are those laid down by God, not self, the culture or the elites. Each has what they think is truth – God declares that He is truth and truth alone. Do we agree? Do we embrace? Do we follow?
a PK Musing 
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