Out of the Scriptures

Anecdotes and the latest best seller won’t do.  Only the Word can accomplish this.

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Acts 17:2 – And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

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In my professional life, before anything else, I am a man of God.  God, His Word, my walk with Him, my obedience to Him, and my serving as His ambassador comes first.  And that includes my work in the arena of leadership training.  In leadership training, I read and utilize books from many good authors.  I read many books from good Christian authors.  I cannot cite how much I have learned from the reading of such books.  But I can say this.  When it is time to discuss the Scriptures, when it is time to reason with someone about Scriptural matters, there is only one place from which to lift the truth to settle any issue – out of the Scriptures.

Many books have been written about healing.  I have written one of those books.  Only to the degree that what is said in such a book is undergirded by the Scripture should one embrace what that book says as absolute, issue-ending proof.  The Scripture must be the undergirding element.  No book has ever been written, or ever will be written, that will undergird the Scriptures.  The Scriptures are the foundation.  All that truly undergirds must come out of the Scriptures.

Many books have been written on prosperity and abundance, counseling, marriage, child rearing, church growth, and more, and the same reasoning must be applied to each of these categories.  Only to the degree that what is said in a book is undergirded by the Scripture should one embrace what the book says as absolute, issue-ending proof.  If it does not align with Scripture, it is error.  There, I’ve said it, and there I will stand.

We know that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  What comes from that which is less than Scripture is debatable.  It may appear pretty, but it’s not backed by faith.  It may appear profitable, but it’s not backed by faith.  It may appear to bring healing or some other blessing, but it’s not backed by faith.  And the bottom line here is, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”  And dear one, without faith you cannot please God.  To produce in one’s life anything less than faith is to aid them in falling short of the will and full pleasure of Father.

So, tell me, my friend.  Does your faith arise out of the Scriptures?  Does your counsel arise out of the Scriptures?  Does your healing and health arise out of the Scriptures?  Does your provision and fulfillment of needs arise out of the Scriptures?  If not, change your source.  Get back to the Word, for it’s out of the Scriptures that all these come.

Manna for Today – Acts 17:1-9; Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 1:18; Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 1:3; Romans 10:17