Rediscover Scripture
On occasions, I get a little concerned about certain statements I hear in messages or read in articles about the Scriptures. I agree that the Trinity is not God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Bible. We know the Trinity is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, and they all honour the written scriptures in the Bible
The same Holy Spirit that lives and abides in us is the same Holy Spirit that inspired the Scriptures. It is a living book to those who are God-breathed and it is a significant place of encountering Jesus for many millions across the earth.
We would know and experience little reality of the Gospel, the love of God, the grace of Jesus, the fellowship of the Spirit, the kingdom of God, God's purpose and our identity in Him (the list is inexhaustible) without the Spirit illuminating the Scripture to us. The Scriptures are sacred and the Bible is authoritative for faith and practice.
I have heard it say "Well we have had the Bible for two thousand years and still the world is not saved and the church is still weak. What we need is more Spirit or more Presence or more of the Father's love” (or to embrace modern societal agendas that contradict heaven’s culture.)
Absolutely,, we need much greater emphasis on the love of the Father, undoubtedly. we need more of the Holy Spirit, more of His presence. We also need more hunger for the Scripture.
I am totally and sincerely up for more visions, dreams, angelic visitations, heavenly encounters and Holy Spirit manifestations. I completely desire to experience more of the Father's love, and let His love overflow through me, reaching out to others in miracles, signs and practical service.
I am totally convinced that all these marvellous wonders are enhanced by an honour and love of the Father's book.
Many awesome servants of God throughout the centuries were martyred to get the Scriptures into our hands, please don't leave them on the bookshelf or worse belittle their importance in your life and in the lives of others you influence.
One of the greatest men of Presence and Spirit that has lived in the last 150 years was Smith Wigglesworth, and he loved the Scripture it was all he ever read. It is documented that Smith kept a pocket New Testament with him and read it wherever he went.
We are not asked to ditch the Scriptures to run with the Spirit, we have been given both let us honour both by receiving both into our hearts! Let us encounter Jesus through His Spirit and His Scriptures.
It is so exciting to hear of The Holy Spirit moving all over the earth. I am excited about all the awakenings and moves - if people are getting saved and lives are being transformed it is always Jesus! Revival history does teach us that those swept in to the Kingdom can be sifted and shifted out and not remain unless we root them in the love, the presence and the scripture of Jesus. Let us not make the same mistake this time.
Let us open our hearts afresh, meditate and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to us in His Scriptures:
Deut 32:47
"For they are not meaningless words to you but they are your life, and by them you will live"
Psalm 138:2
"For You have magnified Your word above all Your name."
Luke 24:27
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Luke 24:32
And they said to one another, “ Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
1 Cor 15:3-4
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received:that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures
2 Tim 3:14:17
"But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
I hope the preceding verses (and appeal to you) encourage you to rediscover the most heavenly, beautiful, life-filled, and exciting book in the earth today - and in your adventure of discovery I hope you encounter the amazing Father of creation, the wonderful Saviour, Jesus and the awesome Holy Spirit who authored the scriptures in partnership with men and women over thousands of years in the hope that humanity itself would be lifted out of darkness and spiritual blindness to rediscover the invitation, call and joy to fellowship with the Trinity, and out of that fellowship to bring restoration to the earth and the heavens.
Geoff Newton