Friday, November 5, 2010

Weekly Dispatch by Kevin Clancey - The Word of God




(by Kevin Clancey)

....the Bible is clear, God is still speaking through His people. The Holy Spirit does not contradict the previous revelation of Jesus in the gospels, or the rest of revelation in the Bible, but He illuminates it and applies it so the Word is living among us.

King Josiah was the last good King in Judah before the exile of the Southern Kingdom to Babylon. He assumed his kingship at the age of 8, but by the time he was 16 he was seeking God. At the age of 26 he ordered the repair of the temple which had been brought to ruins by years of pagan worship and neglect. During the rebuilding the Book of the Law was found, this was either the first five books of the Bible, or simply the fifth book, Deuteronomy. After this was read to Josiah he was deeply moved to repentance because he realized how far God’s people had fallen from the covenant laid out in the book. Josiah then led the nation into a national repentance and saved the land from conquest for another generation. King Josiah gave great respect to the Book of the Law. He respected and honored God’s Word by believing it and obeying it. God’s Word, His revelation, is central in revival. It was in Josiah’s time and it is in ours.

When modern Christians use the phrase ‘the Word of God’, they usually mean the Bible. But the Bible teaches that the Word of God is more than the Bible. First and foremost the Word of God is Jesus. Jesus is the Word made flesh according to John. God revealed Himself in person, in human history God showed up in Jesus. This means if you want to know what God is like the answer is to look at Jesus. The Word of God is also the Bible. God has revealed Himself by inspiring a book to tell of His actions and intentions in history. The Bible is God-breathed and is therefore the trustworthy revelation we have to build our faith upon. There are many good books, but the Bible is the unique book of God, it is the Word of God. Third the Word of God is still among us. Holy Spirit is still with us and still revealing, teaching, encouraging and comforting the church. This makes many Christians uncomfortable, it seems so subjective, but the Bible is clear, God is still speaking through His people. The Holy Spirit does not contradict the previous revelation of Jesus in the gospels, or the rest of revelation in the Bible, but He illuminates it and applies it so the Word is living among us.

As we honor the Word of God by believing it and obeying it, revival can begin, grow and be sustained among us. More on the Word of God this Saturday at The Firehouse Church.