For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (confident assurance). Romans 15:4

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may (continue to) believe on the name of the Son of God. I John 5:13

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. John 20:31

….let the word of Christ dwell in you richly….

How did God reveal Himself to man?

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men                         of God (the prophets and apostles) spake as they                                                   were moved (carried along) by the Holy Ghost.                                        II Peter 1:21              

 Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:

Propheteia  (prophecy) – the speaking forth of the mind and counsel of God.  Though much of the OT prophecy was purely predictive,…prophecy is not necessarily, nor even primarily, foretelling.  It (prophecy) is the declaration of that which cannot be known by natural means,…., it is the forth-telling of the will of God, whether with reference to the past, the present, or the future.[1]

Will – thelema – Not by the will (or desire) of man….not of human origin, not by human desire or design, not the product of human effort.[2]

….the human author’s wills did not direct or carry the Scripture….man’s will, including his will to make mistakes, did not bring the Scripture…they (the human authors) wrote under the operation of the Spirit; therefore, those things they wrote were His, directed by His will, not theirs.  The human wills of the authors were not the originators…..of God’s message….the (Holy) Spirit was the source and the guiding force; the author’s wills were not.  God did not permit the will of sinful man to divert, misdirect, or erroneously record His message.[3]

No part of God’s revelation was unveiled or revealed from a human source or out of the prophets unaided understanding.[4]

…but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

“Moved” – phero – to bear, to carry, being moved, signifying that they were borne along or impelled by the Holy Spirit’s power, not acting according to their own wills, or simply expressing their own thoughts, but expressing the mind of God in words provided and ministered by Him.  Phero is translated “bear” in the sense of carrying and/or supporting (Luke 23:26/John 2:8, 15:2).  Phero is also translated “driven”, of being borne as in a storm tossed sea (Acts 27:15&17).[5]

The Holy Spirit bore men along.  Perhaps we can best understand “bearing” by referring to the use of the same word in Acts 27:15&17.  Just before the ship that was taking Paul to Rome was wrecked on the island of Malta, it ran into a terrible storm.  The experienced sailors could not guide the ship because the wind was so strong.  They finally had to let the wind take the ship wherever it blew.  The ship’s being driven, directed, carried about by the wind, is described in these verses by the same word used in 2 Peter 1:21 that describes the Spirit’s driving, directing, and/or carrying the human authors of the Bible as He wished.  The word is a strong one, indicating complete superintending by the Spirit of all that the human authors wrote.  Nevertheless, just as the sailors were active on the ship, so the human authors were active in writing as the Spirit directed.  The Spirit carried the Word and in His perfection gave us the truth that is the Scripture.  The human authors wrote under the operation of the Spirit; therefore, the things they wrote were His.[6]

The human authors were not passive and robot like as held by the mechanical dictation position.  God chose to use the vocabulary,  experience, background and writing style of each human author to express His will and to reveal Himself to mankind through the Old and New Testament Scriptures.

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

[1]W.E. Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words –pg 492, Copyright 1984, 1996, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN.

[2]W.E. Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words –   pg 162, Copyright 1984, 1996, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN.

[3]What You Should Know About Inerrancy – Charles C. Ryrie,                  pgs 46&47, Copyright 1981 – Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.

[4]NKJV MacArthur Study Bible Notes on 2 Peter 1:21

[5]Definitions by W.E. Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New            Testament Words – Copyright 1984, 1996, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN.

[6]What You Should Know About Inerrancy – Charles C. Ryrie,                  pgs 45&46, Copyright 1981 – Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.

Many are asking, what now?

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?             Psalm 11:3

And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Isaiah 59:14

It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.   Psalm 119:126

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.                 Ephesians 6:10-13

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life in you) in you richly…

What gets us up and going spiritually?  Does our spiritual life consist of a series of highs powered by our favorite music?  Do we require a certain atmosphere or ceremony to lift us to feelings of worship?  Is fellowship what we live and die for?  Does the cup of coffee that we imbibe while reading our Bible produce a better sense of well being than fellowship with God Himself?  Does the absence of suffering and conflict produce in us a sense of well being with God?

As we begin this new year, perhaps it would be good to evaluate whether we are motivated by faith or by feelings.   If we can answer yes to any of questions above, perhaps it is time to repent and to confess it as sin.  The Scripture says the just shall live by faith.

Faith is a firm persuasion or conviction that comes from hearing the Word of God*.  Experiences that produce good feelings do not build faith.  Only Scripture can build faith.**

What are we listening to?

**So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Romans 10:17

Note: If you have concluded from reading this that I am against good music, worship, fellowship, a good cup of coffee, and peace, then you have missed the point.  Our stability, discipline, and spiritual growth as believers is based on biblical faith, a firm persuasion or conviction from God’s Word, not emotional highs.

If you and I are persuaded that the Scripture is God’s infallible Word, how should that affect our lives?

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

*W.E. Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words – Copyright 1984, 1996, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN.