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The Spoken Foundation
Phil Maxwell October 7, 1998
It seems that every time I turn around these days I find someone new mitigating the
fact that the Scriptures are the Word of God. These generally tout their great spiritual
insight, expressing how the Word or Logos of Yahweh is in them, and tend to snub and
ridicule those of us who depend heavily upon the Scriptures in our pursuit of spiritual
knowledge and understanding. They suggest that they follow the Spirit while others follow
the Scripture, inferring that the two are diametrically opposed. These are satanically
inspired lies that contribute to a satanic agenda to undermine the appropriate place the
Scriptures should have in the life of believers.
There is an old hillbilly saying that goes, “All beagles are dogs, but not all dogs
are beagles.” I am well aware of the fact that the worlds were framed by the Word of
Yahweh, so that the things that are seen were not made of things which do appear (Heb
11:3), and that this truth alone makes it very clear that there is far more to the Word of
Yahweh than the written words of the Bible. This does not change the fact that all
Scripture is divinely breathed and profitable for doctrine, reproof, and instruction in
righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). In other words, just as all beagles are dogs, all Scripture is
the Word of God; it is no more inaccurate to refer to the Scripture as the Word of Yahweh
than it is to refer to a beagle as a dog, even though it is common knowledge that there is
more to both than that.
When Eve encountered the serpent in the garden, he played a game with her mind regarding
the Word of Yahweh. Relating what she had been told, she said “God hath said...”
He then followed by leading her to believe that she needed to consider Yahweh’s word
on a broader scale rather than simply accepting the plain and simple truth she had been
told. Such are the tactics of these modern day deceivers who attempt to seduce people into
thinking they ought to distance themselves from reliance upon the Scriptures for the
purposes for which our loving God has given them. Why? Because like the serpent in his
encounter with Eve, they have an agenda that goes well beyond this point.
Does the Spirit within believers work spiritual understanding? Absolutely. However, the
Holy Spirit is not the only spiritual source by which thoughts are received in our minds.
We not only have the Spirit to give us light and lead us in the ways of truth and
righteousness, we also have the flesh and its lusts drawing us towards error and sin. We
have the mind of Christ, but we also have a carnal mind. Any who contend that these are
not factors of our being while in this world are liars who are devoid of the truth (1 Jn
1:8).
The Scriptures repeatedly warn of the manifestation of false teachers, prophets, apostles,
and even Christs coming forth with increasing deception as we approach the end of this
age. How are we to discern these from true workers in the body of Christ? We are exhorted
to test the spirits of these, proving all things, and doing this requires some sort of
absolute standard of measurement. That standard is the Scriptures, not some intangible
feeling or rationalized judgment. The same is true for gauging the thoughts that arise
internally within us. Such may be of the Spirit of God, but the humble servant of Yahshua
recognizes their own propensity for deception and carefully scrutinizes these, too.
This is a fundamental issue of faith, I know, and I don’t mean to bore you with
laying again foundations that we probably should be long past. However, I have been
witnessing quite a lot of failure to search out and prove spiritual things with spiritual
measures by people that I believe should and probably did at one time know better. This
includes boasters who twist and subject the Scriptures to fit into their own sense of the
Word of God, others following after such as these based on carnal observation and
rationalized judgments, and sins against other believers by unsubstantiated or falsely
based senses of discernment. Such things indicate a dangerous departure from true
spiritual discernment, and lest those who are leaning this way repent they will surely
find themselves pawns of the devil who thrives in subtlety and being underestimated.
While we seek to grow in the Spirit we should explore the gifts of the Spirit. We should
desire spiritual gifts, both within ourselves and others, that the body of Christ might be
edified. This pursuit, however, should not...must not...be allowed to carry us away from
the increasingly pressing need to measure spiritual things with the spiritual standard we
can always count on: the Scriptures. Whether a thought in our own mind or a word or work
from someone else, if it doesn’t line up with the Word of Yahweh (that is, what we
know with absolute certainty is His Word -- the Scriptures), turn away from it, no matter
how appealing it may otherwise be.
Yahshua said that His words would last forever, and compared those who hear and do
according to His words to those who build upon a solid rock foundation. The floods coming
out of Satan’s mouth will test these foundations to the utmost. Those who have ears
to hear discern Yahshua’s voice above all others, and His voice is known first by the
record contained in the Scriptures.
Follow-Up Remarks
Re: The Spoken Foundation
Wednesday, 07-Oct-98 11:04:12
Brother Phil I agree with you here.
The necessity of the written word is of great importance. Those who resist the written
word usually do so to their ignorance and eventually (I believe) to their destruction.
They resist the written word (as I see it) so that there is not a standard by which to
judge their teaching.
To place emphasis upon what God is saying today as in opposition to what God
"has" said is an absolute demonstration of ignorance of the scriptures
themselves.
Certainly God "did" say certain things to individuals that do not apply directly
to us. For example God told Abraham that his seed would be as the sands and the stars, yet
we do not claim that promise as ours. BUT even though what God spoke to Abraham as a
promise is absolutely relevant to us as His people today. God created a standard by which
we be able to understand His workings with us and the chosen people Israel.
The principle goes: line upon line, here a little there a little; building upon the
foundation which is the Lord Yahshuah. We must be able to contend for the faith that was
first given by having something to which it can be compared to, thus the scriptures.
God saw the importance of writing things down when he raised up "recorders",
those that would keep an account of numbers, places, peoples, special messages etc. God
told Jeremiah to "write it down". How would Daniel have known about the promise
of restoration if he hadn't the scroll of Jeremiah (I think that it was Jeremiah) to claim
the promise. The Lord Yahshua felt it important enough to open the scroll of Isaiah to
apply the "spirit of the Lord is upon me" prophecy to Himself.
Why was it necessary for the gospel writers to have penned "that it might be
fulfilled which was written by" (and also spoken by". Jesus spoke of the
necessity of the scriptures being fulfilled.
They must be fulfilled because the scriptures were prompted by God to be written thus
leaving a written message by which the people of God could compare truth from error in the
life and demonstration of those who claim divine guidance and authority.
The OT and NT are essential for us to compare truth and error in those today who make such
claims as well.
Mitch
Re: Re: The Spoken Foundation
Wednesday, 07-Oct-98 14:20:21
I agree. The scriptures are definitely the Word of God. While the Bible isn't God,
true, it is the Words that He spoke, and these Words are life, meaning they are alive with
as much power as was there when God spoke the world into existence. That is why Jesus
spoke the written Word when the devil tempted Him in the wilderness, and I believe was
essentially telling us to do the same. And whenever someone tells you anything that
contradicts or is contrary to this written Word, they are deceived. We are told to try the
spirits in 1John 4:1. Over and over in many other places we are warned about false
prophets and teachers. 2nd Peter chapter 2 suggests that many of them were of the faith,
but went astray, for carnal reasons. Man can be mistaken about something, but I believe
the ones that have a heart after God will correct the mistake when the Lord begins to deal
with them about it. But those that desire the carnal, full of pride won't.
Stop and consider, what it was that Satan fell from in the first place, which was
rebellion against God, desiring to be higher than the Lord, which in essence is pride.
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." Pr. 16:8.
And unfortunately everyone's carnal side has this problem. I sincerely believe it is the
"high thing that exalteth against the knowledge of God," that must be cast down
according to 2nd Cor. 10:5. It is definitely the source of rebellion and stubbornness in
man. Job chapter 41 describes the children of pride, which are actually those that choose
to be the children of satan or self.
What is it that causes man to shake his fist in the face of God, saying I don't need a
Savior?
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." 1st John 2:16.
"But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall
exalt himself shall be abased: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
Mt. 23:11-12.
Not because we exalt ourselves, but because God backs those that serve Him first and
others because He leads them to, backing that one up while doing so. Nothing that we do,
but what God does. Consider, Jesus totally humbled himself on that cross, allowing man to
do what they did because the Father told Him to. But then what happened? He was totally
exalted by the Lord when He was resurrected up out of that grave. Death could not hold Him
even. And neither will it hold those that follow after Him.
Have you ever considered how difficult it is to be wrong, know it, and then admit it? But
after you do so, how you feel a release and so much better. But you first must cast that
high thing down that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. And if you don't, first
will come the fall, then thereafter eventually destruction. Such a simple word
"pride", that holds within it so much destruction. We must never think we are
above it either, for once you do, it may sneak up on you.
I as well as my husband has told this story on him often, because it holds so much truth
within it. We were once sharing with another some years ago, and testifying about what the
Lord had done in our lives. And my husband told the other fellow that before beginning
with the Lord how that he was full of pride, but God had taken all of this out of him. And
suddenly the other fellow said to him, yes, and I bet you are proud of it. We all laughed,
including my husband, because he realized what he had really said.
We often think, I have arrived, to find out quickly that when we think we have we
actually haven't.
Man goes to school and obtains great knowledge sometimes, but in the kingdom, it seems, it
is the opposite somehow. The more we understand, the less we know. Is. 55:9.
Agape,
Sandy
Re: The Spoken Foundation
Thursday, 08-Oct-98 07:47:08
Amen Bro. Phil:
The scriptures contain every that man of God needs to be thoroughly furnished to every
good work. The word of God is Spirit, and we all need revelation by the Spirit. That
revelation comes and is expressly adherent to the scripture. If it is not according to the
scripture it is not a revelation of the Spirit.
It is not as though God could not or would not reveal particulars about what a person
should do or expect in their path. One may receive a word of comfort or direction in their
service to God. But, that word will always be according to sound doctrine, and wisdom, as
communicated by scripture.
The reason people insist that they can receive revelation and direction outside of the
scripture is to exert authority. They want to be the power of God to the people. Their
heart is the heart of the sorcerer, whose condemnation awaits them.
The man of God does not need to enhance his authority by false prophecy. He is upheld by
the Spirit through the frame of sound words, according to the scripture.
Bro. Bill
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