His Words Agree with His Word

The subject of this teaching is the most important guideline for everyone who seeks to hear God’s voice: The words He speaks to us will always agree with His written Word and the intent of His Word.

While this may be a fundamental and well-known truth for many of us, it is the very foundation of our walk with God and cannot be repeated too many times.

God will never tell you to do something that is contrary to His Word. Never.

When we seek to hear His voice, we are seeking to know His will. His Word reveals His will.

Know God’s Word

There are many, many verses that stress the importance of knowing and keeping God’s Word in our hearts. Perhaps Proverbs 119:105 sums it up best, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

His Word will guide you safely through the worst of times and temptations. Jesus is our example and He quoted scripture to resist Satan’s temptations and He obeyed Father’s will when He went to His crucifixion.

We need to know His Word and accept every book, chapter, and verse of His Word.

We need to hold fast to sound doctrine and be alert to teachings that are unsound.

For example, on his television show, a particular pastor talked about James 5:14 (“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:”). He explained that this verse is for those “outside the church, the sinners.”

But this verse contains two words that contradict this preacher’s assertion: “among you”. This verse is for those that are within the church.

While this man did not teach a doctrine that could lead someone to hell, we really should examine all things that we are being taught. We should not place a man’s interpretation above what is plainly written in the Bible. We are told to test and prove all things, and to hold on only to those things which are good (1Thessalonians 5:21).

Know the Intent of His Word

We need to understand the purpose of a verse. If all we hold only to is the letter of a verse, we will have a lot of difficulty applying His Word to our lives.

The intent of God’s Word is different than the letter of His Word. Here are some examples:

Bildad. One of Job’s three friends says to Job, “When your children sinned against him [God], he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.” (8:4).

Yes, this verse is in the Bible. But we cannot use this verse as the foundation for a doctrine. If God gave us over to the penalty of our sin any time we sinned, the human race would have ended many thousands of years ago.

The intent of this verse is revealed in the fact that Bildad spoke this cruel and insensitive comment to inflict more pain upon Job. Besides, it conflicts with other verses in the Bible and the name “Bildad” means “Son of contention”.

Sparks. Job 5:7 says, “Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.”

Anyone who has watched a bonfire has seen sparks that fly outward and even downward—not always upward. The intent of the speaker is what’s important—that sparks fly!

The Sun. Psalms 113:3 says, “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised.”

The literal, letter meaning of this verse says that God’s name is to be praised during the daytime only, not during the night.

The intent of this verse is saying that His name is to be praised every day, all day—including the night-time!

What about the Unwritten Stuff?

Yes, there are many things in life where we need to hear God’s voice and there are no scriptures that directly address our situation.

For example, we might need to know which of two equally-qualified people to hire to work in our business. There are no scriptures that say something like, “You shall hire the person who has the most reliable car.”

But, if we ask God to reveal His will in this situation, He might lead us to read Judges 7 where God showed Gideon how to choose those men that should stay and fight with him. God might use this story to lead us to notice certain personal behaviors about each of the two applicants that reveal their character and which would work best in our particular business.

There are things that we encounter in life that God does not speak directly about in His Word because He leaves it up to us to make our own decisions.  He can and will speak to us about those things if we ask Him.

However God chosen to speak to us, He will always speak in agreement with His Word and with the intent of His Word.

It is my prayer for you that Father will continue to help you to hear His voice, and more and more frequently.

With God’s grace and in His peace,

Gary

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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

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