Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.(2 Timothy 1:13 – ESV)
Something more than the Bible will give you something less than Jesus Christ. Don’t go there, don’t chase some “anointing” (Matthew 24:23-26). I don’t need to find a special anointed place when I’ve already got the Special Person who is preparing a place for me in heaven (John 14). Even so, right now, what place could be more special, more anointed, than the throne room of God (Hebrews 4:16)? You don’t need me or anyone else to get you there.
I stake my claim that the Spirit is moving based on the Word of God, not the word of some “anointed” fraud. I don’t need to go get some anointing I’ve already got all I need right here. The Bible is sufficient to meet all our spiritual needs. If it’s not in the book, you don’t need to look. People say “but look at the fruit”; friends that ain’t fruit that’s just nuts. Fruit is about more than the moment that you are in the church looking at people raising their hands and excited. The reason its called fruit is that it takes time to grow. The Bible tells us to look for fruit that remains, fruit that lasts. So called revivals often have no real results. It is not simply about excitement but lasting commitment. Let’s finish up like Paul, let’s stick with the scriptures.
People want to say that we are just worshipping the Bible, they say we had better heed John 5:39. It is true that we need to worship Jesus as He is found in the Bible not worship the Bible itself. The answer as to how to study the scriptures without making them the idol is to remember Christ. We are looking for Jesus, the one presented within the pages of scripture, not some false anointing calling itself Jesus that we don’t find in the scripture. That is the key.
Now this isn’t done by just knowing facts about the Bible or facts from the Bible, but knowing the God of the Bible, knowing His will, His way, His wisdom. This isn’t simply about memorizing more verses, although that is good. This is about learning to value Christ above all else, and to be able to taste His goodness so that you pass the tests of faith when they come. You will know what Christ is like and when something isn’t up to standard, to avoid it. Its value is seen for what is really is, pleasure for the moment but poison for your soul. You learn to discern.
If you have ignored getting more from His Word, if you haven’t been using the normal means like prayer, Bible study, witnessing and such, and yet you want some spiritual power encounter, you may get it, but it probably isn’t from God. He has already provided, He has already given you more, but you want something else, not something more.
So you go to some place other than where the Word of God is faithfully preached, to somewhere they are talking about exciting things but they aren’t found in the Word of God, and you receive something that to your mind was from God. But we may be asking for something God isn’t giving, like some made up anointing or mantle or whatever. We ask because of our desire to be an instrument in an area God doesn’t want us to deal in, and then we get some counterfeit.
When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he told Jesus to ask for the stones to be turned into bread. Jesus knew that though this would be granted, sometimes we are not supposed to ask, because we know that we have got what we need already. Jesus said man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. God has spoken (Hebrews 1:1-2, 2:1). We have His Word now, we have enough, and we don’t need some charlatan tempting us to eat the devil’s bread.
I stake my claim that the Spirit is moving based on the Word of God, not the word of some “anointed” fraud. I don’t need to go get some anointing I’ve already got all I need right here. The Bible is sufficient to meet all our spiritual needs. If it’s not in the book, you don’t need to look. People say “but look at the fruit”; friends that ain’t fruit that’s just nuts. Fruit is about more than the moment that you are in the church looking at people raising their hands and excited. The reason its called fruit is that it takes time to grow. The Bible tells us to look for fruit that remains, fruit that lasts. So called revivals often have no real results. It is not simply about excitement but lasting commitment. Let’s finish up like Paul, let’s stick with the scriptures.
People want to say that we are just worshipping the Bible, they say we had better heed John 5:39. It is true that we need to worship Jesus as He is found in the Bible not worship the Bible itself. The answer as to how to study the scriptures without making them the idol is to remember Christ. We are looking for Jesus, the one presented within the pages of scripture, not some false anointing calling itself Jesus that we don’t find in the scripture. That is the key.
Now this isn’t done by just knowing facts about the Bible or facts from the Bible, but knowing the God of the Bible, knowing His will, His way, His wisdom. This isn’t simply about memorizing more verses, although that is good. This is about learning to value Christ above all else, and to be able to taste His goodness so that you pass the tests of faith when they come. You will know what Christ is like and when something isn’t up to standard, to avoid it. Its value is seen for what is really is, pleasure for the moment but poison for your soul. You learn to discern.
If you have ignored getting more from His Word, if you haven’t been using the normal means like prayer, Bible study, witnessing and such, and yet you want some spiritual power encounter, you may get it, but it probably isn’t from God. He has already provided, He has already given you more, but you want something else, not something more.
So you go to some place other than where the Word of God is faithfully preached, to somewhere they are talking about exciting things but they aren’t found in the Word of God, and you receive something that to your mind was from God. But we may be asking for something God isn’t giving, like some made up anointing or mantle or whatever. We ask because of our desire to be an instrument in an area God doesn’t want us to deal in, and then we get some counterfeit.
When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he told Jesus to ask for the stones to be turned into bread. Jesus knew that though this would be granted, sometimes we are not supposed to ask, because we know that we have got what we need already. Jesus said man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. God has spoken (Hebrews 1:1-2, 2:1). We have His Word now, we have enough, and we don’t need some charlatan tempting us to eat the devil’s bread.
8 comments:
Eat what the Lord has placed on the table or you despise what is already there. You cannot claim hunger if you haven’t even cleaned your plate yet, you are just wanting something different, things more suited to your personal taste and you are not maturing because you are not eating the balanced meal God has for you. People who want “more than the Bible” cannot claim a need or hunger for more of God when they haven’t eaten all He has already set before them.
I know this personally....
You think you are growing in God but you are just marking time with more experiences of the same sort...ironically that is how you see the Bible...
Wow, it's quiet in here!
I like what you said, "The reason its called fruit is that it takes time to grow."
Such as the mustard seed, it's not the seed it's how the seed grows.
So... whats your schedule like these days?
I stake my claim that the Spirit is moving based on the Word of God, not the word of some “anointed” fraud.
Amen.
People want to say that we are just worshipping the Bible, they say we had better heed John 5:39.
It's annoying when fellow christians say things like that. Honestly, how many christians (to our shame for sure) actually read or the Bible well enough to be accused of this?
Honestly, how many christians (to our shame for sure) actually read or the Bible well enough to be accused of this?
What I meant to say was
"Honestly, how many christians (to our shame for sure) actually read the Bible enough" to be accused of this?"
What I started to say was "Honestly, how many christians (to our shame for sure) actually read or know the Bible well enough to be accused of this?"
And then I thought if we "know" the Bible we wouldn't be guilty of worshipping it, would we?
Anyway, just thought you might be interested in the whole thought. ;)
Indeed..thanks honey...hey Paul, leave it to my wife to start makng a ruckus, huh?
:-)
Paul, btw, Thursdays we have been doing the radio broadcast recording, so right now Fridays are better for me, but we probably could adjust that schedule if we need to...let me know if Fridays (same time) would be good, or whatever, I look forward to meeting again...
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