It’s In the Bible part 2
In part 1, we looked at the importance of not only doing what is written in the Bible but doing it according to the perfect will of God.
Imagine what would have happened to the Gentiles if God had sanctioned the appointment of Matthias as the 12th Apostle.
Contrast that with what happened in Acts 15 when the church elders summoned a meeting to deliberate on Gentile circumcision.
Read Acts 15.
Verse 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.
Peter whose speech silenced the contenders still consulted the Old Testament bible.
Act 15:13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:
14 “Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
15 “And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written.”
What is the difference? Both Peter and James not only searched the Scriptures but consulted the Holy Spirit for confirmation.
Everything written in the Bible is for you, but it’s not everything that is written in the Bible that is about you.
Some Christians pay tithe to God referencing it to Abraham who gave a tenth of war spoils to Melchizedek.
Others say tithing is applicable to New Covenant believers because Mal 3:10-12 says so.
Verse 10 “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”
I know a popular man of God who teaches that there is nothing wrong with polygamy claiming that Abraham, David and many patriarchs of old were polygamists and that God did not condemn the act.
Misinterpretation of scripture is dangerous to the wellbeing of God’s children.
The key for avoiding weird doctrines arising from misinterpretation of the Scriptures is to be led by the Spirit of God.
Rom 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
To function effectively as a follower of Christ you must be led by the Holy Spirit on every issue of life. Serving the Lord is possible only by being full of the Spirit.
There is one baptism in the Holy Ghost and several infillings. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18).
Most of the needless problems we encounter in life are because the Holy Spirit is not part of the decision-making process.
Even when the Holy Spirit leads us into unpleasant situations He makes a way of escape so that it does not consume us. But when we act independent of Him, He does not interfere.
There is every need therefore to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We do that by walking in the Spirit through yielding to His promptings.
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:16, 25)
Before taking any action be sure to say “It’s good to the Holy Spirit and to me to do this and that.”
~Collins #evangelicalfellowshipinstitute.org
