The Minister: I have heard you say many times that there is much about what you have been given to say that is quite contrary to evangelical Christian beliefs, but I still don’t understand what you mean by that. So, could you make it clear to me?
The Crackerhead: Well, what about all of that stuff between me and that other minister? For she was quite adamant in insisting that there is power in the Word of God, which there most certainly is, but what I have been given to say about it is that the power is in Him—not His words.
Perhaps the easiest way of summing it all up is to answer the last question that I proposed to her. For if all of the Bibles (even the false versions) were utterly destroyed, and all knowledge and understanding of our Heavenly Father's Holy Scriptures was completely removed from our minds, would it still be possible for the lost to be saved through the work of His Holy Spirit? For the way she, and far too many others, are thinking is that our Heavenly Father's Holy Spirit was sent in order to instruct us about the Word of God, which is what is contained in His Holy Bible to them.
No, this is not to say that they want to limit Him to what is contained on the pages of a book (even though some really do take it that far), but on the other hand, that is exactly what they are promoting by insisting upon referring to Him as being One and the Same with the book that He had written about Himself. For there is a big difference between reading about someone and actually being in their very presence, and in far too many hearts and minds, His Holy Spirit just doesn't count in that regard.
Be assured that He should. For it truly is as it is written: So there are three witnesses {in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One;} {and there are three witnesses on the earth:} the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree [are in unison; their testimony coincides]. [1 John 5:7-8 AMP]
Please note that "the Word" is listed as being in Heaven, which works quite well for this discussion, but be assured that this is not to say the He is not here with us at this very moment in this world, as well. For He is truly One and the Same with His Heavenly Father and His Holy Spirit. Therefore, where One is—so are the Others [John 14:15-20].
Yes, I may very well be just a matter of my own opinion (and a most unrighteously judgmental one at that), but if that is true, then why did she ignore the question? Moreover, why did things get so far out-of-hand in the first-place?
No, I do not want to believe that all who believe in such a way as that are lost, and I was comforted by the dream about my mother being without her glasses and unable to see well that is mentioned towards the end of The Crackerhead Chronicles. For she thought that most of the stuff that I was being given to say (it was far less complete then, and there may be more to what I have been given so far) was utter nonsense, and I really was greatly concerned when she died without ever changing her mind.
In other words, not all will be judged upon the same things. For what I am being held accountable for is not necessarily the same for anyone else, but woe be it unto all who refuse to accept what our Heavenly Father wants them to [Luke 12:47-48].
The Minister: If there is not power in the words of God, then why did Jesus use the words of Scripture to fight Satan in the wilderness and why are His words called the Sword of the Spirit? See [Hebrews 4:12 NKJV]--"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."; and [Ephesians 6:16-17 NKJV]--"above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." These verses are in direct contradiction to what you say.
The Crackerhead: Could not both of those passages be in reference to Christ Jesus? For He will be the Judge of the quick and the dead [1 Timothy 4:1], and is our defense against the wiles of the devil not only in Him [Mark 14:38]?
The Minister: Why would Jesus use Himself to fight Satan? He uses scripture. Again, all over the scriptures, Jesus and the Word are used synonymously--not always, obviously, but enough times that it is clear that Jesus is The Word. Let me ask you one more question: Why does it matter? I asked you that in my previous message, but I am wondering if you have asked yourself that. I assume you are not trying to discount the importance of the Bible in guiding how we should live and how we learn to know God? As long as you believe that the Bible is directly from God, and believe that we should take it as such, then the rest seems unimportant. Anyway, it's not up to the two of us to decide it and I have to get back to thinking about what I need to do on the 3 blogs I am managing. I do appreciate your communication.
The Crackerhead: I'm sorry to bother you again with this, but I was just given another way of presenting it that might bring the point finally home. For when you read such things as "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" [Psalms 119:11 KJV], do you have Christ Jesus (or His Holy Spirit) in mind or His Holy Scriptures?
Yes, many would argue that the verse has to be in reference to Scripture because our Heavenly Father's Holy Spirit had not yet come, but they would be most incorrect to do so. For it truly is as it is written: Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. [Psalms 51:11 KJV]
No, this is not to say that it was the same in the Old Testament days as it is now. For back then, our Heavenly Father's Holy Spirit was not poured-out as much upon as many as He is now, but He was still there. For it truly is as it is also written: Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all {kinds of} craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all {kinds of} craftsmanship." [Exodus 31:1-5 NAS]
The Minister: Let me ask you something--What difference does it make? God says that Jesus is the Word (see [John 1:1]). There are times in the Old Testament where the Word means both the scriptures and the Messiah. Since you believe that the Bible is from God, then it is the Bible you should be searching, and not trying to convince other believers as to how much the scriptures themselves are associated with the Holy Spirit. All that matters if that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit think that the Bible and the Word are the words of God. It's not important whether I agree with you or not on what sounds like a minor point of doctrine. If, however, you are trying to make this a major point of doctrine, then, again, it is the Bible where you should start, because our humanness often keeps us from misinterpreting the Spirit's "voice" in our minds.
The Crackerhead: On one hand, this is about intimacy. For I am quite sure that you would be thrilled to receive a note from your husband that says that he loves you, but is that the same as having him say that to you in person?
On the other hand, this is about the line between where our Heavenly Father stops and we begin. For if all of those verses that have something or another to do with the Word of God truly are referring to His Holy Bible, then the responsibility for almost everything spiritual would be much more on us, but if they are referring to Christ Jesus, then the responsibility would be much more on Him.
A good example of both would be what is written in [Psalms 119:105] about thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. For if this is referring to our Heavenly Father's Holy Scriptures, then that would be about committing them to memory instead of about having a very close and personal relationship with our Lord and Savior.
Please, do not think that I am trying to discourage anyone from becoming as familiar with what is contained in our Heavenly Father's Holy Bible as they are allowed and enabled to. For it does indeed contain the sum-total of His Holy Scriptures, which consist of His very own words, and they were given to serve as written confirmation of what He wants to personally reveal to us.
Nonetheless, personal revelation is not taken into account by those who have been led to believe that the Word of God is the Bible, and even in cases of those who do acknowledge the presence of our Heavenly Father's Holy Spirit, His role is generally considered as being of a secondary nature. For instead of being recognized as truly being the Word of God Himself, He is thought to be little more than a Teacher of the Bible.
Getting back to the part about "speaking in tongues" that was mentioned in another email, none of this is going to make much (if any at all) sense to you unless you have been given ears to hear it. For it truly is as it is written: This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. [1 Corinthians 2:13-14 NIV]
No, this is not to say that you obvious do not have our Heavenly Father's Holy Spirit living within your heart if you cannot understand what I am saying. For it all depends upon what He wants to accomplish in and through someone that determines when and to what extent He will allow and enable them to come into the knowledge and understanding of His absolute Truth [1 Corinthians 3:1-3], and in many cases, much spiritual knowledge and understanding is not required [Luke 12:47-48].
Hence, another thing that all of this stuff about the true Word of God actually being the Lord Jesus Christ instead of just the book that He had written about Himself is meant to address. For it has been widely taught that spiritual knowledge and understanding can only be gained through many hours of devoted study, which means that anyone who does not know as much as another must not be as faithful in that regard [1 Corinthians 4:6-7].
Yes, many would seek to exploit such a doctrine for their own personal gain. In fact, many already do. For they boast about being given great insight into the mysteries of God, but what I have been given to say is for those who are already being made aware of our Heavenly Father's voice and are having a hard time accepting that it truly is Him because of being taught that all they need is His Holy Bible [Galatians 1:11-12].
It was just brought to my attention that I should say some more in regards to Christ Jesus using Scripture from Deuteronomy to rebuke Satan during His 40 days in the wilderness [Matthew 4:1-11]. For aside from Him just quoting Himself, employing what He had already had placed into written form through Moses was in reference to Moses writing about Him for the benefit of the scribes and the Pharisees [John 5:45-47], as well as for the rest of us [Romans 15:4].
No, that is not something that many would like to believe. For it has been widely taught (both openly and implied) that we are given power to do battle against the forces of evil that is independent of the indwelling of our Heavenly Father's Holy Spirit, and using Scripture fits in quite nicely with the imagery of actually wielding a sword against an enemy.
Yes, that certainly looks sensible from our own ground-based points-of-view, but in what way is employing Scripture against the wiles of the devil any different than reciting an incantation in order to cast a spell for the purpose of warding-off evil? For it could be argued that there is a big difference between Scripture from our Heavenly Father's Holy Bible and verses from a book of witchcraft, and I would not argue otherwise, but if the application of both are the same, is not the intent the same?
Besides, do we not already have the ultimate weapon against the forces of evil in the Lord God Almighty Himself? For it truly is as it is written: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. [Matthew 6:9-13 KJV]
No, this is not to deny that we are given spiritual gifts, and power over Satan and his horde of rogue angels is most certainly amongst them [Mark 16:15-18], but be assured that they are all SOLELY in our Heavenly Father's Holy Spirit to do with as He so desires [1 Corinthians 12:1-11]. Be also assured that this is something that the devil does not want us to know and understand—let alone accept [Ephesians 6:10-17].
The Minister: I know you have a lot of good ideas, but I have way too many things going on in my life to have a lot of long theological discussions. Although I appreciate your interest in communicating, I think the best way to correspond is through the various topics and comments on the blogs. Anyway, I'm going to bow out of the e-mail discussions. Thanks.
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ReplyDeleteI really wish you hadn't removed your comment, my dear Barbara. For it was a really good one. To help you understand, what is posted here is a discussion between myself and a real person, mostly concerning the true "Word of God" being Christ Jesus--not the book that He Authored to serve as written confirmation of what He wants to personally reveal unto us. Be assured that I was just like her before our Heavenly Father started making Himself real unto me in 1993, and the main reason why it is important to distinguish between the two is that thinking of His Holy Bible as being the Word of God makes it that much harder to truly have a very close and personal relationship with Him. Anyway, thanks for stopping by!!!
ReplyDeleteWell this is good post for every christian must read and thinking it further.
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