It Is Written

1. Question: "I know a preacher who says that God talks to him and tells him what he should do. Should I expect God to talk to me to tell me what to do?”

2. My brother says that he actually hears an audible voice speaking to him. Does God actually do this to some?

   If God were to speak to us directly today, we would, I suppose, say that what He says is important.

   God spoke directly to Moses. If God were to write with His finger His message, we would likewise say that is important. God wrote the 10 commandments on tablets of stone.

   But God also told Moses to write. God told His prophets to "write". Should not that also be important?

   Jesus tells us how important the Sacred Writings are. The Sacred Writings of O.T. Scriptures are pointed out by Jesus to be the Message He and others were to use to resist the devil with. [Subsequently, Jesus added the New Testament to the Sacred Writings (2 Tim. 3:16, 17)].

   Jesus is our example (I Pet. 2:21; I Cor.11:1). In the Judean wilderness, (Matthew 4:1-11) Jesus was face to face with the devil with His temptations. Three times Jesus answers the challenges or trials with "It is written".

   First, Jesus, by His example, teaches us to use the Scriptures when we are faced with the decisions of life.

    Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (KJV)

   Jesus was beginning His public ministry. Was He to indulge in His desires, pleasures, and fleshly wants, or was He to follow God's will? Jesus' example shows us to use what is written for our decisions of life. The words translated "answered and said" are two thoughts. The word "answered" [apokrinomai] means "to conclude for oneself, that is, (by implication) to respond" (Strong's). Jesus, using the Scriptures, gave attention to the devil's remarks, and promptly He gave His reply to the devil.

   Second, when we are faced with an interpretation of Scripture and we want to know if that is a true interpretation of the Scriptures, do as Jesus did.

     Matthew 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (KJV)

   Jesus harmonized all Scriptures on that subject. The devil quoted Scripture. But his interpretation would have Jesus violating another Scripture. And Jesus told him so. Jesus' reply is "It is written AGAIN". Truth does not contradict itself. What do we learn from Jesus versus the devil in this confrontation? We should check and see if an interpretation given to us contradicts other Scripture. Put it all together; harmonize them and then you can believe and act.

   Third, Jesus used Scripture to tell how His worship and service was to be directed.

    Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

   Worship and service is not to be directed to the devil. Nor, to ourselves. But we are to direct our worship to God. "It is [so] written." People want to entertain themselves "in worship" instead of "worshipping God". It is, "what pleases me?" Not, what pleases God.

   How do we please God? The answer is found in what "is written". If we can't give book, chapter and verse for our worship and service to God, we are in trouble.

     In conclusion: Our lives should pattern that of Jesus in responding to the challenges of life.
1. Our decisions must be based on what "is written". Ponder over God's Will in the respective matters, decide what God would have us do, and follow that course.
2. Our interpretation of Scripture must harmonize with all passages on the subject. Make our conclusions based on all that is written.
3. Our worship must be based on "it is written". And all of our service to God must be Scripture based.

-Gaylon West, an elder, Auburndale, FL.

Does God speak (audibly) today?