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*Truth. Absolute Truth - The True And Living God, Our Lord Christ Jesus.*

*Isaiah 55:10-11 NKJV*
For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

I’m not too sure what to say right now, except that I’m absolutely floored by the Word right now… Spent yesterday digging deep into scriptures and a few sermons from John MacArthur concerning The power or ‘usefulness’ of the Word and The Breath of God, that Divine Inspiration that comes from the very mouth — SPOKEN (Heb 1:1) and thus breathed by God. Breath being another reference to the Holy Spirit — the intimacy found together in Charismatic (Spirit Empoewered) and the Evangelical (Word Centered) is just… wow.. floored.

So many times this past week, this past month this past year — decade, my life! I’ve taken for granted the significance and power of the Holy Scriptures, The Word of God. That depth of Grace given to us that we might come to know Him (Salvation : John 17:3) I read, I study — I reference, I pray… but I usually don’t comprehend that great depth of love for us, in Him giving us scripture.

You know, like *God Breathed,* *God Inspired,* hmm… good to know. Scripture being able to make one wise unto salvation, proffitable for teaching, reproof, correction, training to rightousness… equipping us to do *EVERY* good work (2 Tim 3:16-17) It is *LIVING* active! POWERFUL! sharper than any two edged sword piercing the division of soul and spirit, etc.. (Heb 4:11-13) but as you delve deeper into the Word, as you let those words roll in your conscious mind, and simmer in your unconscious — it refines it changes you…

That promise from Isaiah 55:10-11 (see beginning) the Word is like rain or snow — it doesn’t go bakc to where it came from — but rather once its sent — once its preached, once its read — it begins its work immediately soaking into the soil — that is our soul/hearts, softening our hearts, eroding away the hardness, washing away the dirt, the pollution the corruption… cleansing us —and nourishing us that we might believe unto salvation by the faith that is given to us by grace…

So yesterday and today — God has just been demonstrating that promise to me… THE REALITY of how EFFECTIVE His word is — like reading all that emergent church, spiritual formation, objections to the Scripture alone, and trying to wrestle that with in its role in accordance to other traditions… He’s brought me great comfort… Sola Scriptura, “Only Scripture” — a depth of peace, a depth of faith that comes from hearing the Word (Rom 10:17). Comfort & Peace because it is true, it is certain! — So as Paul urged dear timothy…

*2 Timothy 3:14-15 NKJV*
But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

*Continue!!* - in what you have learned, continue in your pursuit of the Holy Scriptures! Remembering those [referring to Timothy's mother & grandmother] who taught you — those who were STRONG, ‘GIANTS’ in the Faith.

Good teachings — those things that abide in Christ, the teachings of Paul and the Apostles, teachings that produce godliness (1 Tim 6:3) — *good fruit* seek after these!

In preperation for sunday school i was looking over some articles on sola scriptura — and the various objections to it — and well my brain just blanked in all that confusion — like Sola Scriptura? Wha?! you’d think it’d be easy straight forward.. the Scriptures are a FOUNDATION to our salvation — faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the word of God, Rom 10:7 again. but yah added with echoes from my last post just a lot of issues conflicting with my theology, my faith — like stuff just isn’t matching up… O.o fear, confusion all that sets in

And we remember:

*1 John 4:1 NKJV*
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

*test the spirits!*

Knowing that the Scriptures are God Breathed — from the Holy Spirit! & such — He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7) — If teachings are TRUTH, they do not spread fear, or confusion, division, weakness — No! The Holy Spirit that has breathed/inspired them is quite the contrary!

*Sufficiency of Scripture as the Sole Authority in Faith & Practice*

*2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV*
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, [...] that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

To be a Christian can be ’summarized’ in the two commandments that Jesus Highlights–
1. To Love The Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind.
2. Love your neighbour.

Or in parallel — The Word in 2 Timothy 3:
1. Wise for Salvation (v15) ref - To Know God (John 17:3)
2. Complete thoroughly equipped for every good work (17)

What more are we called to? Those 2 commandments, those two instructions summarize the Christian life. — to Seek Him earnestly to be filled and poured out — in love, teaching of others that others might come to know the True & living God!

Equipped for every good work — Its interesting to note that though the passage in 2 Timothy 3 is mostly evangelical — that there is a great & deep intimate link between charismatics & evangelicals. Other than the great divide between Alliance & Pentecostals and perhaps the ‘error of scripture’ argument presented by some charismatics in the last century..

Its interesting to note — not only is the Holy Spirit so deeply intimately involved in the writing & inspiration of the scripture — but also in the equipping…

*Luke 9:1-2 NKJV*
Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. *He sent them to preach the kingdom of God* and to *heal the sick.*

A Reflection in founding Alliance Theology of being evangelical & (supposedly) charismatic — equipped to heal others that the Word might be spread more effectively.

Regardless — The Word, The Spirit, definately deeply and intimately related. And such — to be charismatic is not to reject the authority of the Word for new revelation, but so much more to embrace the Word that it confirms the revelation, the signs and wonders that He is doing through us. Likewise to be evangelical is not to reject the Spirit for our very Word is given to us by charis — grace.

Quick comment on contemplation or the “prayer filled life” (as according to Foster)… Really our prayers are only effective when we seek God’s heart… only effective when we know Him. If He doesn’t know you why would he grant you something? likewise when we don’t know Him how shallow and dead our prayers are… no one is going to do something against their will/morals/character — just because you asked…

So friend, I implore, I beg - you to dig deep into the scriptures, embrace it, hold firm to your salvation — let the Spirit flow forth as a mighty river that it might prepare your heart — that the scripture would come and into the good soil bear much fruit!

*Matthew 7:6-8 HCSB*
“*Keep asking*, and it will be given to you. *Keep searching*, and you will find. *Keep knocking*, and the door will be opened to you.

thanks alex for your faithful support, encouragement, and edifying teaching