How To Read Scripture, Part 10

The Word of God is always the final authority. Any personal message from the Holy Spirit through the Word must never contradict the Word. “In my quiet time the Lord told me to leave my wife because He wants me to be happy.” Such foolish interpretation counters the clear teaching of His Word and can be dismissed immediately as a false conclusion. There will always be the temptation to fall for some satanic lure that suggests the Word is not the final authority. There are four factors to consider as you read Scripture:

· The Word is more authoritative than a sign. “But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas” (Matthew 12:39). Here the Lord Jesus rebukes any who would put a sign above the written Word. Jesus then uses Scripture to support His point.

· The Word is more authoritative than a miracle. “And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:31). We have the clear testimony of Christ explaining that even the miracle of a resurrection will not bring about conversion if the observer denies what was written by Moses and the prophets.

· The Word is more authoritative than human reason. “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” (I Corinthians 2:13). The Apostle Paul addressed the issue of human reason resisting divine revelation. This is a major temptation, which is all around us. We must be on guard and compare all human wisdom and reason with Scripture.

· The Word of God is more authoritative than any experience. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (II Peter 1:19). Peter speaks of his experience at the Mount of Transfiguration and then goes on to tell us that Scripture (the more sure word of prophecy) is more reliable than any experience.

Always keep the Word as the final authority. That's the way I see things.