Hebrews 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Christians are to be in a relationship with a Person, not merely a book, for the purpose of the written word is to lead us to the Living Word. God’s written does not have any more authority than His spoken word, because ultimately, if persons become set in a rigid written reference point, then if God speaks something that is not written, we will recoil from it.
It is good that we have the Bible at our fingertips in our day, but there were times when the very same Bible was chained to monasteries, and people were prevented from reading it. Thus, with the onslaught of secularism, and the breaking down of scriptural foundations it becomes all the more important that the written word lead us to The Living Word.
Law does not have to be written for it to be law; in a written format, it becomes a reference point which is to be accessed for purposes of streamlining that which is right, and in that context it is absolute. But our relationship with God must go deeper than it is written, for Jesus must be able to tell us what to do, even if it may not be written in stone.
Thus, it was in the beginning, and just as how the book of Genesis leads us to Revelation, the Bible leads us to a point in our christian experience where A Person, even The Lord Jesus Christ, can take over in directing us what to do. This does not mean that we are now free to walk contrary to what is written, because the law of God and those eternal principles will remain unchanged throughout eternity.
All it means is that our reference point is not to be so rigidly set in stone, that God cannot speak to us through His prophets, or any other means He may choose. In other words, if we restrict God to only what is written in the Bible, then, if He gives us any instruction that we cannot clearly find in His word, it may be rejected on the basis of lacking authority.
Back in the days of yore, there were not any laws written in stone before Mt Sinai, yet God’s spoken word, had just as much force as when it became etched with His finger. In fact, it is written was only meant to certify that which was spoken all along, a fact that can be observed in the way God’s law was given to the Hebrews. Let’s read:
Exodus 19:3 And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.
8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.
Exodus 20:1 And God spoke all these words, saying,
2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
12 Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
13 Thou shalt not kill.
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15 Thou shalt not steal.
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.
18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
22 And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
Exodus 24:12 And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.
So, now that the Hebrews have a written reference point in their hands, they could be instructed from the written law of God, and they could always check the veracity of Moses’ instructions, if there was any doubt or question of authority. That is all well and good.
The problem is that some of the instructions God gave Moses were never written anywhere, and the people were expected to obey just as if God’s words were written. Thus, the question of authority would surface from time to time, and would also ricochet to Jesus’ day, where the question of authority arose after many of His sermons. Let’s read:
Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery.
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Matthew 21:23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
The same question of authority arose with Moses and Aaron, when instructions were given out, which were not written. The question that would always arise is whether they should obey, as if it came from God, or may be, just may be, Moses is taking it upon himself to give out arbitrary instructions. Let’s read:
Numbers 12:1 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
2 And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it.
4 And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.
5 And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.
6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed.
The question of authority also arose in the days of the early Christian church, when Paul baptized the gentiles without them being circumcised. In those instances, persons who were rigidly tethered to it is written brought scripture to back up their argument and Paul found himself having to defend what he did with only it is spoken. Let’s read:
Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
The fact of the matter is that it took many centuries for laws to be written, because they were passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth, and those who were thus instructed were expected to obey, just as if the laws were written in stone.
Several examples are given in scripture to certify the truthfulness of the former statements, and as we study them closely we will discover that persons back then had come to view it is spoken as a valid reference point, as it pertained to what they would or wouldn’t do, just the same as if it were written in stone. Let’s read:
Genesis 4:6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.
Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God.
22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth.
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Genesis 39:7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Romans 4:15 For where no law is, there is no transgression.
1st John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Why would Joseph call it sin, since there were not written laws anywhere. We are concerned about how he came to that conclusion, based solely on it is spoken, for as was stated before, the law of God was passed down through generations by the word of mouth.
Therefore, is Joseph managing his behaviors and his choices based solely on what his dad told him? And if so, are such instructions sufficient for persons to conclude that certain behaviors are indeed sinful? The answer is to be found in it is spoken, because the law of God in spoken format is just as valid as if it is written.
In fact, if we would receive it, the spoken format is even greater than the written one, for there have been instances where instructions were given that were contrary to law. But because the persons in question were tethered to a Person, and not merely law they did not run the risk of disobeying the voice of God. Let’s read:
Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
Now, it is true that the Bible emphasizes the fact that Abraham obeyed God’s voice. But a closer look at this singular occurrence reveals that Isaac also exercised a radical faith, by agreeing to obey God’s voice, even though The Lord did not speak to Him directly in this matter.
His father told him what God said, and in his young mind, that was sufficient. For himself, there was not much incentive to obey, other than he purposed to obey God’s spoken word for he must have been told of his own miraculous birth, and God’s promise of a great nation to come from his line, let alone the conflict between it is written and it is spoken. Let’s read:
Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 152] At the appointed place they built the altar and laid the wood upon it. Then, with trembling voice, Abraham unfolded to his son the divine message. It was with terror and amazement that Isaac learned his fate, but he offered no resistance.
But Isaac had been trained from childhood to ready, trusting obedience, and as the purpose of God was opened before him, he yielded a willing submission. He was a sharer in Abraham's faith, and he felt that he was honored in being called to give his life as an offering to God. And now the last words of love are spoken, the last tears are shed, the last embrace is given.
Question: If Abraham had decided to go with It is written, instead of it is spoken, would he be guilty of disobedience? Here it is again; the people are in violation of that which is spoken, before the written law of God was given. Let’s read:
Exodus 16:27 And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.
28 And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?
29 See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.
30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
There are times when God may choose to grant us additional instructions to meet the needs of some particular situation and in some instances, following the general counsels given in the Bible might not be sufficient to steer us clear of difficulty.
Especially is the instruction of God needed in those gray areas of life, where the Bible may not spell out in clear, distinct lines which course of action we are to pursue, or which specific decision to make in any given situation.
And because of this, we would need the voice of God as we endeavor to navigate the maze of voices coming at us from time to time, from so many directions.
Clear discernment, and wisdom is needed from God if we are to avoid serious errors in judgment, for the Bible gives us general principles and specific laws to cover every phase of our lives. But to have them be applied in our particular situation might be another matter altogether.
For instance, the Bible teaches us that we must not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for there will be a disconnect between the two perspectives both spouses adopt in life. But the Bible does not tell us which particular person to marry and for this reason we will need A Person, to guide us through such an important decision.
Some folks make the mistake of taking the general information and instructions in the Bible, and they run with them, not understanding that the written word is always to lead us to The Living Word. This is one of the reasons why there are many separations in the churches of the land.
Two people, believing that the seventh day is the Sabbath, and that the three angel’s messages are in harmony with the Bible prophecy and who eat their veggies with singleness of heart are not guaranteed to be compatible. Thus, even though they may hold the same beliefs in common, persons will still need the voice of God to guide them to Mr, or Mrs right.
Thus, even as we embrace the written word of God in its entirety, yet we must leave some wiggle room for God to be able to direct us and speak to us on an ongoing basis because the essence of the Christian’s experience is with The Person, not only the book.
Now brethren it is critically important that we listen very carefully to the following, for it’s quite possible that we are beginning to enter the time of the latter rain, when the promise of copious amounts of The Holy Ghost is to be fulfilled across the entire globe, which will bring all the inhabitants of earth to their final decision to seal their eternal destiny.
The very unnatural disasters, the unprecedented diseases spreading across the globe, the infighting among political leaders, the social unrest, the pent up fires of rage and passion, and those irresolvable disputes and conspiracy theories we’re bombarded with every day, tell us that we closing in on the final events written and spoken of by Bible prophets.
To put it plainly, it is just a matter of time before there is that final conflict between the laws of God and the laws of men, because, with God-ordained marriage out the window, there is only one more shoe to drop, and according to the prophets, that final conflict will occur contemporaneously with the latter rain.
Therefore, we reiterate again that it’s quite possible we have already begun to enter the time of latter rain, the time more than ever, when we would need God’s spoken word to guide us through the many difficulties that are scheduled to converge in the not too distant future. If we become too rigidly tethered to an it is written format, then when God is ready to grant additional information and instruction we may resist it on the basis that it cannot be found anywhere in scripture.
This is what took place at the onset of the former rain, and if we do not become tethered to The Person of God, we may inadvertently rise up against His voice when He gives us pertinent instructions through His prophets, that may not be discerned in His word. Let’s read:
Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
The servant of The Lord commenting upon this very time referenced by Joel alludes to unorthodox ways and means that God would employ, when the latter rain is to be poured out. Whenever the gospel, in its simplicity is presented in too technical a manner so that the average John Doe cannot understand, then God will speak to and through those who are willing to listen to His voice. Let’s read:
[Last day events pp 205>206] The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them.
The truth that he speaks under the inspiration of the Spirit is so pure and remarkable and carries with it a power so indisputable that his testimony cannot be gainsaid. The Spirit is poured out upon all who will yield to its promptings and, casting off all man's machinery, his binding rules and cautious methods, they will declare the truth with the might of the Spirit's power.
Thus, the question we now have to settle is: When will the outpouring of the latter rain take place, and when will God’s voice be heard, and obeyed in the context of Joel chapter two and three? Let’s read:
Joel 3:13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe for their wickedness is great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
Verse 13 of Joel chapter 3 is of grave importance for it begins by calling for the sickle, an instrument of reaping which is only called for when the harvest is ripe, according to the same verse.
So the question is: At what period in earth’s history is the sickle going to be called for? This question is so weighted that we must let the Bible answer, without any human interference or input. Let’s read:
Revelation 14: 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation;
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine=press of the wrath of God.
Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.
Very pertinent information has been given to the remnant people of God to help us in navigating the myriad snares that are already set for the feet of the unwary. Some of her instructions may actually seem to conflict with some directives given in the Bible.
However, the additional information is tailor-made to address the needs and crises of those of us who are living on the brink of eternity. Therefore, if we become too rigidly set in stone as it pertains to that which is written in the Bible, God might be speaking but we may not be listening, because we may have blocked out anything that is not set in stone.
Therefore, we end with a statement from the pen of inspiration, cautioning us that the manifestations which marked the beginning of the former rain, may not necessarily be repeated during the latter rain, and for this reason, the outpouring of God’s Spirit in the last days may not be recognized, or understood when it does take place. Let’s read:
[Last day Events pp 195>196] Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.
God Bless!