Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-11-14-2018

This is devotional thought number 14 in our devotional series, “The Protest is Not Over: Transformation is Key to Reformation.”

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:20–21).

Here’s my great big question for the day! Are you ready for it? Do you trust the Holy Spirit? Do you trust that He who breathed truth into men He made holy, can also breathe life into you, so you can understand the truth? I hope so.

One of the great blessings of the Reformation was promoting every person’s ability and right to, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15). You should be curious about this, because the Roman church in Europe made itself the interpreter of Scriptures and refused everyday folks’ access to them. They privately interpreted the Word. They disallowed the people access to study and show themselves approved before their Creator; the only One to whom they were actually answerable. They subjugated the minds of all those under their domain. This is not good.

It was a blessing when God opened the door for the Word to be translated into the tongues of the people. Think about it: the Bereans during the apostle Paul’s day were recipients of such a privilege to study Scripture. Here’s what the Bible records about them: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.” (Acts 17:11–12). The Bereans, both men and women, were of outstanding qualities because they studied the Scriptures for themselves. Not only this, but they received the Word with eagerness and enthusiasm.

Let me share a few Bible principles with you. The principles come after the following: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly … The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:” (2 Peter 2:1–5; 9). When we accept others’ interpretation of Scripture according to their fancies, heresy, denial of the Lord’s honor, false teaching, and darkness will result in condemnation if we don’t repent. Here are the key principles I promised: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:13–14). “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,...