Need Supernatural Joy In your Life?

Need a little supernatural joy in your life? Then take 30' or an 
then asking the Spirit to illuminate the passages and renew you mind with the truths about Joy and rejoicing as you interrogate these passages

Psalm 5:11
Psalm 16:11
Psalm 20:5
Psalm 27:6
Psalm 30:5
Psalm 32:11
Psalm 33:1,3
Psalm 35:27
Psalm 42:4
Psalm 43:4
Psalm 45:7
Psalm 47:1
Psalm 48:2
Psalm 51:8, 12
Psalm 63:7
Psalm 65:8
Psalm 67:4
Psalm 71:23
Psalm 81:1
Psalm 84:2
Psalm 87:7
Psalm 89:12
Psalm 90:14
Psalms 92:4
Psalm 95:1
Psalm 96:12
Psalm 98:4
Psalm 105:43
Pslam 119:111
Pslam 126:6
Psalm 132:9
Psalm 149:5
Matthew 2:10
Luke 1:14
John 3:29

The True Work of the Holy Spirit in Believers Lives

TRUE SIGNS OF THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.” (John 4:2-3)

SALVATION, BORN AGAIN, SAVED,

Regeneration is an instantaneous work. Conversion to God, the fruit of regeneration, occupies all our life, but regeneration itself is effected in an instant. A man hates God; the Holy Spirit makes him love God. A man is opposed to Christ, he hates his gospel, does not understand it and will not receive it: the Holy Spirit comes, puts light into his darkened understanding, takes the chain from his bandaged will, gives liberty to his conscience, gives life to his dead soul, so that the voice of conscience is heard, and the man becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus. And all this is done, mark you, by the instantaneous supernatural influence of God the Holy Ghost working as he willeth among the sons of men

Publish Post

When a ministry raises people’s esteem of the one true Jesus Christ, who was born of a virgin and was crucified — if it confirms and establishes their minds in the truth that He is the Son of God and the Savior of men — then it is a sure sign that it is from the Spirit of God. If the spirit at work among a people convinces them of Christ and leads them to Him; if it confirms their minds in the belief of the history of Christ as He appeared in the flesh; if it teaches them that He is the Son of God to save sinners; if it reveals that He is the only Savior, and that they stand in great need of Him; and if it begets in them higher and more honorable thoughts of Christ than they used to have; if it inclines their affections more to Him — that is a sure sign that it is the true and right Spirit. This is true even though we are ultimately incapable of determining whether anyone’s conviction or affections reflect real saving faith.

THE CONNECTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO INTERPRETATION

Review

Fundamentally, the work of the Spirit’s is in the area of conviction rather than cognition. And it’s true that one’s convictions do influence one’s perceptions. So it seems that the Holy Spirit may be said to facilitate (aid) our interpretation, even if the role of the Spirit is limited to that of conviction.

So what is the work of the Holy Spirit in our understanding of the Scripture?

1. To convince us of their truth in addition to an exegetical way. How?
2. Our respectful relationship to the Lord.
3. Our belief in the bodily resurrection of Christ.
4. Our belief in the physical return of Jesus Christ
5. Our belief in the deity of Christ.
6. Our belief that Jesus was God in his humanity on earth.

I must say the real challenge of agonizing with issues is to determine how much the health of the church is impacted by our exegetical decisions. I have a convincing idea about what Scripture says how to have a strong and healthy church. But I have discovered that the presentation of one’s findings must always be actualized by a spirit of CHARITY.

"Be careful not to elevate your own non-central beliefs to the first level of conviction that is reserved for those truths which the Spirit bears witness to"

The fact that the Holy Spirit can be suppressed to a degree, we must keep a passionate heart toward God (through prayer, worship, church, humility and obedience.) We must also keep a very high value of the preciousness of these central truths by study of the Scripture, in order to cultivate the apprehension of the Spirit’s inner witness in us.

• The Bible is our only present source of absolute propositional truth. It came into being by the now completed work of INSPIRATION, a special work of the Holy Spirit. Holy men of God were moved in such a way as to render their inspired writings inerrant in all matters of fact, doctrine and interpretation. They were superintended so that their words would exactly convey the ideas God intended them to convey sovereignly utilizing their human individualities (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:19-21, 1 Corinthians 14:37).

Part Four

The work of the Holy Spirit is necessary in the work of knowing the Scripture. We can be so into the study of the Scripture that we might foreget the work of the Holy Spirit.

But on the other hand there are also dangers that emerge once we begin to speak of the need of the Spirit to illumine.

Some would have us to believe that if its the Spirit which gives understanding of God's Word, then scholarly helps, Charles Spurgeon, John Owens and John MacArthur works are not necessary, and other helps linguistic and grammatical study, and the consultation of commentaries are unnecesary, which I believe is a form of intellectual presumtion.

I have encounter an impatient hearer, who will say, "Don't give me Greek or Hebrew or theology, just tell me what the Bible says!"

Some are so secure in the conviction that what they believe is a Spirit-given interpretation of a passage that they are immu;ne to any instruction.

I know some who expect a special private revelation as they are reading the Bible: "I was reading the Bible in the quietness of my study this morning, and the Lord said to me..."

The idea that the things of the Spirit are spiritually discerned is a glorious and comforting thought, but like so much in Scripture, it is something, which the ignorant can twist to their own destruction.

The danager of misunderstanding 1 Corinthians 2:14 will lead to the tempting the human pride to believe that the surface, straightforward meaning of Scripture is only a divice to conceal deeper truth from the uninitiated.

We must study the Scripture with the belief that the Holy Spirit will aid our understanding, but at the same time know that my understanding is limited by my sinful mind, and thus I need to know there is no priviate interpretation of any Scripture.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into the study of the Scripture. But study the Scripture. Use the necessary tools that will help you in the meaning of the words and grammer. Greek and Hebrew and theology study is necessary in the study of the Bible. Its okay, its not a lack of spirituallity, to check out what John MacArthur is saying about a text.

Drafted By Charles E. Whisnant and Proof Read in part by Charity Whisnant

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in relation to the interpretation of Scripture?

Part Three

We continue today the three post on this article on the work of the Holy Spirit in helping us understand the Scriptures.

It’s also true, if one has high respect for the Divine Author (God) but does not have respect for the human author. I agree with God, but I don’t agree with Paul, or John, or James. When you interpret the Scripture with the idea that the human authors could be wrong than you are going to have a different view point of the text. The Bible is both a divine book and a very human book. It’s a progress of revelation

• 5A If a person encompasses the principle of belief in the transcendental (supernatural) they are in a better position to interpret both the miracles and prophecy. Non-Believers can not treat the book of Jonah adequately. Those who cannot accept prophecy, or prophetic portions of Scripture are forced to interpret those prophecies as other than real prediction. (Could this be the case of prediction of an Earthly 1000 years kingdom?)

Most of the world’s people do not believe in the Biblical account of Creation; they don’t believe in the account of the Flood; they don’t believe in the account of a coming Jesus Christ; they don’t believe in the coming Tribulation in Revelation; and most don’t really believe in the account of Hell. Those persons will not be in a position of understanding the Bible.

Those who accept in faith those events will have a much better position of understanding the Bible.

• 6A WHAT ABOUT THE INNER WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT (Rom. 8:16, 1 John 2:20,27)
  When the Holy Spirit within us gives us conviction and perception of the central truths of Scripture.

"I would say that the Spirit’s affirmation, confirmation, witness, is an immediate, non discursive (Proceeding to a conclusion through reason rather than intuition. ) above supra rational logical testimony of the truth of the central tenets of the faith."

So what is the work of the Holy Spirit in our understanding of the Scripture?

1A To convince us of their truth in addition to an exegetical way. How?
1B Our respectful relationship to the Lord.
2B Our belief in the bodily resurrection of Christ.
3B Our belief in the physical return of Jesus Christ
4B Our belief in the deity of Christ.
5B Our belief in our need of salvation in Jesus Christ alone .
6B Our belief that Jesus was God in his humanity on earth.

What the Spirit may not convince us of:

1B Whether Reformed theology is right.
2B Whether dispensationalism or covenant theology is a better system.
3B How to define spiritual gifts.
4B How long it took God to create the Universe
5B If to be a Baptist is preferred over being a Methodist.

Or an Independent Fundamentalist vs. an Evangelical, or Reformer.

I would say there are several areas that are left for us to examine using our best rational and experimental resources. Many!

But at the same time it does not mean that we cannot come to some fairly firm conclusions About these, I am fairly firm about the Baptist thing.

I have read that there are "negotiables" in Scripture. They are very important areas of investigation, but are not issues of life and death of the church. Some are more important than others. For example: to have elders and deacons in the church, versus just deacons and pastors. Maybe the form of church government.. I believe the proper conclusions about many of these are necessary for the health of the church, but are not essential for the life of the Church.

The greatest work of the Spirit in the person is in the area of salvation. The Holy Spirit is essential in the life of the unbeliever for salvation. And the Holy Spirit is essential in the life of the Believer to bring about the process of salvation in his life.

The inner witness of the Holy Spirit seems apparently not to happen as fully in other areas. Which doesn’t mean one area is not important. Otherwise, all of us would believe the exact same way. It seems that the central work of the Holy Spirit is in the area of salvation.. And as we move from that area to other teaching, there seems to be more freedom and tolerance of those who disagree with us.

• We will continue with part four next:

Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant Proof Read by Charity Whisnant

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

IN RELATION TO THE INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE?

Part two

TWO PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE TO VIEW THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT

• I Corinthians 2:12-14 in part one.1 John 2:20 "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (20)
• KJV
  vs 27 "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."
• ESV 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie——just as it has taught you, abide in him.

• NASV 27As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide

What do these verse teach? "You all know it.:" i.e. you all know that you have an anointing from the Holy One. And vs 27 "you have no need that anyone should teach you, and his anointing teaches you concerning all things."

These verses illustrates three of the most important rules of exegesis: CONTEXT, CONTEXT AND CONTEXT. Only if we ignore the context can we construe a meaning that generalizes this text.

This text is always used by many people to say, "We need only the Holy Spirit to teach us what the meaning of the Scripture is."

Vs 20 would seem to indicate that what the believers know by personal experience is their anointing. I would take that to mean this is the inner witness of the Spirit; they recognize that the Spirit ministers to them in an immediate way, and convincing them of their relationship to God (Rom 8:16) If Paul is saying that no one should teach them anything at all, why then does he teach them in this letter? Therefore, this text is teaching something different.

What is the context around this verse? What is the context around this "anointing" Paul is contrasting these believers with heretics who have removed themselves from the believing persons. (2:19) Paul emphasizes what these believers know; that Christ has come in the flesh, that he will come again, and that they are the children of God. He also punctuates how these believers discern the essential truths of the faith: they have the Spirit of God. He is persuaded that they will stay true to the faith - that they will abide - because "greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. (4:4).

HERE IS THE KEY TO THIS IDEA OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’S WORK IN US:

1 John 2:20 and 27 DOES NOT indicate the Holy Spirit bypasses the interpretive process. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit DOES work on our hearts, convincing us of the essential truths of the faith. One who does not have the Spirit of God cannot believe such truths and consequently cannot know them experientially.

Example: When I studied on the text of I Corinthian 2:12-14 and 1 John 2:20, 27, I spent a great deal of time in the interpretive process of trying to know what the verses are saying. Then when I was preaching the text, the Holy Spirit worked on my heart and mind to convince me of the truth in the text. So I had to go though the process of studying the text and then the Holy Spirit convinced me of the truth of the text. I could not bypass the process of the study of the passages

THE CONNECTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO INTERPRETATION

1. Fundamentally, the work of the Spirit’s is in the area of conviction rather than cognition. And it’s true that one’s convictions do influence one’s perceptions. So it seems that the Holy Spirit may be said to facilitate (aid) our interpretation, even if the role of the Spirit is limited to that of conviction. How?
2. Experiential knowledge has a boomerang (to have the opposite effect from the one intended; backfire.) (a mistake in calculating) effect on intellectual comprehension. When reading a text, we might have had the experience of what has been suggested, and we can comprehend it.
3. Interpretation of the text can be mislead by disobedience to the Scripture. While saying we respect its authority (well at least in lip service), we can distort the text. For example: if you believe a sexual behavior is right, you might say "The Bible is a book about God. The Bible is not a book about human sexuality." "The Biblical authors are silent about sexual orientation as we know it today." They neither approve it nor condemn it. (Homosexual) Therefore as I have said many times. To the degree that one is obedient to the Scripture, you will be in a better position to understand it and deal with it honestly.
4. Sensitivity to the biblical writer will open up understanding of the Scripture. And when one is a believer you already have an approval of what is going to be said. The reason so many interpreters misunderstand the text is because they lack the desire to understand. For example: I have a high regard for John MacArthur, as a person and as an author, thus his messages or writing have an impact on me. On the other hand, anything that Joel Osteen says has little impact on me.

Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant, and Proof Checked by Charity Whisnant

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in relation to the interpretation of Scripture?

Part One

This week I will attempt to address the roll of the Holy Spirit in our understanding of Scripture.

Footnote: I have written six pages on this one article and will post the article over the next three days.

Different theological grids will have different points of view about the ministry of the Spirit.

• How many times have I heard and been informed: "If the Christian will simply pray, the Holy Spirit will give you the proper interpretation. ." Preachers have mentioned to me in sermon preparation: "Charles, ask the Holy Spirit to give you the meaning of the text and the sermon to preach this Sunday." I try to always pray and ask the Holy Spirit for His inner witness as I study and preach.

So many people have the idea that the interpretation of Scripture is to be "What does this verse mean to me?" This is called the IDIOSYNCRATIC (INDIVIDUAL) MEANING OF THE TEXT. Whimsical I might call this approach. It’s the believers run amok. It’s a pooling of ignorance or a merely pietistic approach to Scripture. It’s one of my pet peeves ‘Pooling ignorance of the Word of God.’

On the other hand, some believe the Holy Spirit has no place in a scholarly method of interpreting the Bible.

You would think if we have one Holy Spirit, one Bible, that we could have one interpretation method of the Scripture. We are so polarity? (A relation between two opposite attributes or tendencies.) We hardly have two preachers who agree, and only one Holy Spirit.
Why? We all don’t read the Bible in the same manner. We are seeing the meaning of Scripture today different from what John Calvin saw it, or even how Charles Spurgeon saw it. We all see Scripture from our understanding of how to know the Scripture.

Some will say this: "We should be open to new truth from Scripture. Even heroes of the Christian faith have changed their minds about the meaning of various Biblical texts."

So how should we approach the understanding of Scripture?

• It is important to articulate one’s position in such a way that we recognize the unique prophetic, revelatory status of Scripture. That is, we must not say that the Spirit adds more revelation to the written Word. This would deny the sufficiency of Scripture. The Spirit can not add revelation to the already written Word. As if the Holy Spirit could add new revelation to you and you alone. Nor can we say that the Bible becomes the Word of God in one’s experiences. In others you could not think you can make the Bible mean anything you want it to mean.

A KEY PASSAGE FOR A THEOLOGICAL ISSUE IS KNOWN AS CRUX INTERPRETUM Such a text is a hinge on which one’s view depends.

(Frank Tallerico has said "you can’t take one passage and make a doctrine out of it" } Some do.

TWO PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE TO VIEW THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT

People use these verses to support there view of the purpose of the Holy Spirit

I Corinthians 2:12-14 and 1 John 2:20, 27

How you translate these verses will give you a meaning of the work of the Holy Spirit in the area of knowing the understanding of Scripture.

I Corinthians 2:12-14

• KJV: Now we have received , not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." (12)
  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (13)
  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (14)
• ESV says: 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (Or interpreting spiritual truths in spiritual language, or comparing spiritual things with spiritual (13))

In sum, I Corinthians 2:12-14 is saying that the non-believer will not accept spiritual truths and cannot understand them. It’s a volitional (choice) problem. Sin affects our wills, emotions, and our minds. Non-believers do indeed plainly understand the Gospel message at times, and unbelieving exegetes do often offer valuable insights into the text. Unbelievers can at times give an explanation of the text that would be right. The point here in these verses is: the depths of God’s ways and God’s wisdom cannot even be touched by non-believers. There is a level to which they cannot accomplish.

SCRIPTURE WILL TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE, SCRIPTURE WILL SANCTIFY YOUR LIFE

Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant and Proof Read by my wife of 38 years Charity Whisnant

HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO BELIEVERS?

HOW DO WE INTERPRET THE SCRIPTURE?

part two

In this series I will address

1A General introduction to this subject: I Corinthians 13:12, John 16:13, John 14:17

2A The Holy Spirit in the Ministry of the Word.

3A The role of the Holy Spirit in relation to the interpretation of Scripture.

4A True understanding of the Word of God is found.......?

5A How the Holy Spirit is to lead Believers into "all truth."

John 14:17 "[even] the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you."

"whom the world cannot receive; the men of the world, who are as they came into the world, carnal and natural men, can neither receive the Spirit nor the things of the Spirit, the truths and doctrines of the Gospel; they can neither receive them into their understandings, nor into their affections; and indeed, because they cannot understand them, therefore they do not love them, but despise and hate them:"

• " because it see him not, neither know him; the world, and the men of it, can neither see him with their bodily eyes, because he is a "spirit"; nor know him with their understandings, because he is the "Spirit of truth", which they are ignorant of, for want of a spiritual discerning."

But you know him; as a spirit of illumination, regeneration, and conversion:

"for he dwelleth with you; he is an inhabitant in your hearts, he has taken up his residence in you as his temples"

The understanding that the Holy Spirit gives is the understanding of regeneration and conversion. The Spirit opens the mind so the mind can understand the Scriptures.

But this does not mean that the Holy Spirit gives us private interpretation of the meaning of Scripture. The understanding of the Scripture comes as the Holy Spirit opens our minds to enable us to understand what we are learning about the Scripture. At least in my case, strictly speaking, it’s not until the Holy Spirit opens my mind to what I am reading, studying, and researching that I get the meaning of what the text says.

I would say the Holy Spirit affirms, or validates what we are learning about the text of Scripture. I would say I trust the Scripture's teaching as to what it is saying, rather than what I think my own mind is saying about the text.

Watchman Nee said most Christians would not know if it’s their spirt that is speaking or if the Holy Spirit is speaking.

How often have we heard people say, "I believe the Holy Spirit is telling me." And they are 100% Biblically wrong.

I agree in general with what you are saying. I am not in disagreement with the thought, I am just thinking this through again.

We can't understand God at any level in our mind, unless the Lord opens our mind to that knowledge of Himself.

Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant 02 01 07 Proof Read by Charity Whisnant 02 01 07

HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO BELIEVERS?
HOW DO WE INTERPRET THE SCRIPTURE?
Part One

My brother writes:

• "Since God has given us disclosure (about himself and the redemption he provides) in a book that could be represented by an infinite number (or how about any number with a billion zeros after it?), we are not best served when we neglect it in order to read what man attempts to write on the same subject in books that together could be represented in comparison to the Bible by (let's say) the number three. "
  Don Whisnant
  Grace point

In this series I will try to address:

1A General introduction to this subject: I Corinthians 13:12, John 16:13

2A The Holy Spirit in the Ministry of the Word.

3A The role of the Holy Spirit in relation to the interpretation of Scripture.

4A True understanding of the Word of God is found.......?

5A How the Holy Spirit is to lead Believers into "all truth."

I was on a blog that undertook this issue, "How does God speak to Believers?" And should Believers read other books and material to understand the Bible? It was good to see the many comments made.

• 1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. (KJV)
  "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." (ESV)

I am not sure, but, it seems that all we know on earth is limited as to the mind of God.

• Luke 24:45 Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures;
  "Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures," (ESV)

Ver. 45. Then opened He their understanding, He not only opened their hearts, to attend to what He said, and the proofs He gave of His resurrection from the dead in a true body; but He removed the veil from the eyes of their minds, and gave them an understanding of the sacred writings, respecting this matter:

• "that they might understand the Scriptures; concerning His sufferings, death, and resurrection, which they were very ignorant of before, and which were as a sealed book unto them, John 20:9.

Though they had been from their infancy brought up to the reading of the Scriptures, and had the advantage of Christ's ministry for some years; which shows the necessity of the special illumination of the Spirit and the influence of His grace to remove the darkness of the mind, and give the true sense of the sacred writings. "

• John 16:13 - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, [these] shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to ...(KJV)
• or "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." (ESV)

"He will guide you into all truth; necessary to be known, useful to men, profitable to the churches, even the whole counsel of God; what relates to worship, the nature, form, and spirituality of it, as well as doctrine. He is as a guide, he goes before, leads the way, removes obstructions, opens the understanding, makes things plain and clear, teaches to profit, and leads in the way men should go, without turning to the right hand or left, which, without such a guide, they would be apt to do. "

So what is the role of the Holy Spirit in the interpretation of Scriptures?

Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant, Proof Read by Charity Whisnant