Faithful preachers emphasize the importance and
necessity of Bible study and prayer because it is in these activities
that the mind of Christ is developed in the Christian. Yet, others,
even some in the Lord's church, have suggested that these activities
are not sufficient to guide us and aid us in developing the heart
and mind of Christ. They suggest that the Spirit of God must guide
us in addition to, or separate from, the Word of God and prayer.
The work of the Spirit of God was and is to transform
us so that we might live more like Christ. We are told to walk
in the Spirit and to live thereby (Gal. 5:16). Paul said that,
in order for us to be the sons of God, it is essential that we
be led by the Spirit (Rom. 8:14).
The question is not "Does the Spirit lead
us?" but "How does this leading take place?" It
is not done separate and apart from the Word of God but through
the Word. Those who advocate a leading of the Spirit separate
from the Word of God will tell you that if any leading of the
Spirit is not in harmony with God's Word then it is not the Spirit
of God. My question then is, "What is it?" If the Spirit
leads in some way separate and apart from God's Word but cannot
speak anything that is not in God's Word, then why is the Spirit
telling you and not telling everyone else? Why do we need the
Bible at all? Yes, Paul said, "But though we, or an angel
from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which
we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:8).
Does this mean that an angel or even the Spirit would speak directly
to us today? Paul supposes an impossibility in order to make his
statement emphatic.
What says the Word of God? Jesus said, "It
is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the
words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they
are life" (John 6:63). He told the apostles that He would
send the Spirit ... to teach them all things, to bring all things
to their remembrance of what He had said, to testify of Him, and
to guide them into all truth (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13). Paul
wrote, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,
whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond
or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit"
(1 Cor. 12:13). What is the Spirit by which we are baptized? It
is the teaching of the Spirit given to the apostles and that which
we can read about in the Bible. Paul said further that the Spirit
had revealed to him the knowledge of the mystery of Christ, and
he wrote those things down so that when we read we can have the
same knowledge he had by inspiration (Eph. 3:1-5).
Paul told Timothy, "that from a child thou
hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise
unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished
unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:15-17). He also wrote to the
church in Colosse that they should, "Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly in all wisdom" (Col. 3:16).
God loves us and did not leave us with insufficient
guidance or the need for some separate leading of a supernatural
nature. "According as his divine power hath given unto us
all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through
the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue"
(2 Peter 1:3). So, study and pray, then worship and labor as a
child of God till the day comes when we shall receive our eternal
inheritance. 345 Klingler Rd., Paulding, OH 45879. caracalla@roadrunner.com