In continuing the What
We Believe, We believe that God has communicated to us through prophets and
evangelist. God gave them the unction to
write according to the Holy Spirit's guidance.
This notion is captured in the following statement of belief:
The Bible is inspired by God:
o
We believe the Holy
Bible to be the inspired Word of God. II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21. (CH)
o
WE BELIEVE...The Scriptures are Inspired by
God and declare His design and plan for mankind (AG)
In this next verse, Peter illustrates that scripture came about by the Holy Spirit.
2
Peter 1:20-21
New
International Version (NIV)
20 Above
all, you must understand that no
prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For
prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human,
spoke from God as they
were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
These human writings are a product of God through the Holy
Spirit. Man did not originate the
thoughts as some would propose as an author writes a mystery novel. But, as evidenced by the Holy Spirit, the
prophecies come true hundreds and thousands of years later. We are still anticipating some end time
prophecies to come true. We don't always
understand the prophecies but surely as I live, they will come true. How can I say this, you ask? Because of the prophecies of Jesus Christ
that came true all throughout the bible.
The prophets prophesied about Jesus, how He would live, how He would
minister, how He would die, how He would live again and how He would become the
earth's King and Glory. And only the
last phrase, How He would become the earth's King and Glory, has yet to be
fulfilled. To me this is exciting,
because all indications are that we are at those end times prophesied in Daniel
and the other prophets, in Revelations and in various other scriptures.
Timothy also states that the Holy Scriptures are inspired by God. In this passage, Timothy gives purpose to the
Scriptures. These are wisdom for
salvation, teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness and
being thoroughly equipped for every good work.
One could preach an hour sermon on this passage.
2 Timothy
3:15-17 New International Version
(NIV)
15 and how
from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to
make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All
Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness, 17 so that
the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The next verse, Paul tells the Thessalonians
that those words Paul and the other disciples preached were really words from
God. Paul states that God's word is in
work in the Thessalonians who believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 New International Version (NIV)
13 And we
also thank God continually because,
when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it
not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at
work in you who believe.
This gives credibility to the prophets. When they spoke under God's anointing, God
was speaking through them. God honored
the prophets too. What they spoke, God
made sure that prophecy came true. On
the other hand, there were those who said they were prophets but God had not
given them anything to say. They
prophesied what men wanted to hear, words that they might get paid for
saying. Teasing men to believe a lie of convenience and leading men away from God.
When you hear a prophecy, make sure it "checks out" with the
word of God. The Bible warns us of false
prophets and tells us to test these prophetic utterances to make sure they are
of God.
In these next verses, Jesus talks about the word surviving until the
word of God is completely satisfied or fulfilled. He states that the words of
the law and the words from the prophets are being fulfilled through Him
Matthew 5:17-19 King James Version (KJV)
17 Think
not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to
destroy, but to fulfill.
18 For
verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall
in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever
therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so,
he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do
and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Isaiah says the words will go out and fill its purpose.
Isaiah 55:11 New International Version (NIV)
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will
not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
I think
it is clear, God has anointed prophets, apostles, evangelist and teachers to
speak His words and to author the Holy Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 12:27-28 New International Version (NIV)
27 Now you
are the body of Christ, and
each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God
has placed in the church first
of all apostles, second
prophets, third
teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different
kinds of tongues.
We
believe that the Holy Bible is a collection of the written scriptures. I also believe that the bible is complete in
that this is the Holy Book composed of 66 other books to do His specific
purpose. But just as Paul's preaching was
inspired by the Holy Spirit and not all his sermons were captured in the
scriptures. Not all Holy Ghost inspired passages were captured in the Holy
Bible. However, I believe the Bible as written serves an eternal purpose and
will endure until that purpose is complete.
I also
believe that some of today's writings are inspired by the Holy Spirit. For instance, John Bevere discusses writing
his books including the Bait of Satan, does not credit himself as the author
but God and admits to only being the first person to get to read what the Holy
Spirit is saying to the church. Another
example of writings is The Spiritual Avalanche that could Kill Millions by Steve
Hill. This is a message to the modern
church about how dangerous false doctrines may lead many into damnation because
they have believed a lie and have lived life accordingly. I believe the Holy Spirit gives messages to
his prophets today as he did in the 1st century church.
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