August 30
Job 34:1-36:33 | PS 44:1-8 | Prov 22:10-12 | 2 Cor 4:1-12
We, in Christ, must make decisions daily, in fact, moment by moment. When we speak forth the things of God are we lifting up Him or ourselves? Are we pushing forth His truth or our opinions? Our world is in serious need of revival, and revival must be centered on the truth of God's Word. Humans will come and go, but God's truth remains. The bulk of religious services teach topically. This means that the church leader has a message that he wants to convey, that he feels the congregation needs to hear, then chooses some verses from Scripture to back his thoughts. This is dangerous in that it is the individual that is manipulating Scripture to elevate his opinion. Exegetical teaching centers on the word of God. God's word is at the center and is elevated, the leader simply tries to make what is being said by God understandable and applicable. When you look at the main characters contained in the pages of Scripture, such as Moses, the kings like David, Solomon, Hezekiah, and Josiah, Ezra, the prophets, along with the individuals teaching in the New Testament, revival and teaching stemmed from putting forth God's Word, not on themselves or what topics they thought the people needed to hear.
We read in 2 Corinthians 4:2, we read, "But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God." Paul did not try to twist Scripture to make it mean what he wanted to convey. He was a vessel to put forth God's Word. Elihu, one of those speaking to Job, said in Job 36:2, "Bear with me a little, and I will show you That there are yet words to speak on God's behalf." We must be very careful when we claim to be speaking on God's behalf that which is not clearly stated in Scripture. It is a serious thing when we represent ourselves as though speaking for God, when it is coming from our minds, and not backed by the entirety of Scripture.
We also read in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." As in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13), even if the perfect seed is being planted, it comes down to the condition of the soil, or one's heart if it will be received. We should not be surprised when we put forth God's perfect Word and it seems to fall on deaf ears. Many, in fact most, are wrapped up in the things and distractions of this world. This is their truth, not God's Word. So when God's Word, which is truth, is presented to those consumed with the lies of this world, they will not only not believe God's Word, they will question God's character, misapply God's Word, etc. to fit their distorted reality of truth. That is why this Bible Reading Plan was initiated. People need to be centered on the entirety of God's Word so that they can stand firm on His foundation.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: