Scripture is attacked from so many different quarters, even
from within the Church. Some claim that we don’t need the Word because Jesus is
the only Word of God. Others claim that because we now have the indwelling
Spirit and His anointing, we no longer need the Scriptures, citing:
·
But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and
you all have knowledge. (1 John 2:20; ESV)
Undoubtedly, understanding the Scriptures is more than
simply a matter of study. The Spirit also has to open our heart to receive and
understand it. Ordinarily, we are closed to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians
2:14). This had been the condition of Israel. They had the Scriptures, but
their minds were closed to it. The Spirit had to first remove the blockage (2
Corinthians 3).
God must also illuminate the Scriptures for us as Jesus had
done for His disciples after His resurrection:
·
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I
spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in
the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he
opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:44-45)
While the Spirit can open our minds without the Word, He
does so in accordance with the Word. Jesus had promised His Apostles that the
Spirit would bring all His teachings (Scripture) back into their remembrance
(John 14:26).
Similarly, Paul instructed Timothy to meditate on what Paul
had written him, and God would give Timothy understanding in conjunction with
Paul’s words, not in isolation of them:
·
It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have
the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you
understanding in everything. (2 Timothy 2:6-7)
Paul also likens Timothy’s reflections on Paul’s writings to
the “hard-working farmer.” This suggests that we shouldn’t take the Spirit’s
work for granted. We too must do our part by diligently studying Scripture,
laboring over it, meditating on it both night and day (Psalm 1:1-3; Joshua 1:9;
Deuteronomy 6:4-6).
It is this labor that is transformational:
·
Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what
is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
Although hard work is involved, we must never forget that it
is all for naught without the anointing of the Spirit.
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