The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Grace and Peace"
Part 4 - The Spirit and the Word
"Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice" (Psalm 51:6-8).
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word" (Psalm 119:9).
A direct correlation exists between the doctrines of Scripture, the conscience of believers, and the peace of our hearts.
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (II Timothy 3:16).
As mentioned in Part 2 of this series of messages, the Holy Spirit's presence in our born again spirits results in inward disturbance when we distrust and disobey God. Our Lord loves us enough to discomfit us when we detour onto paths of thought, attitude, word, and deed that do not reflect the character of Christ, in accordance with Scriptural revelation. The latter point particularly requires our attention: "in accordance with Scriptural revelation." Not only do we require the personal moving with us of the Holy Spirit. We also need to know the Bible well enough for the Spirit to have oil for the lamp, as it were, in order to expose unbelief and disobedience. Consider the Apostle John's warning to those who denied the fact of sin:
"If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and His Word is not in us" (I John 1:10).
The primary context of John's warning involved the Gnostic error prevalent in his day whereby false teachers denied the reality of sin. However, a corollary lesson also relates to believers regarding our own awareness of deviations from God's will. If "His Word is not in us," our sensitivity to both the will of God and the Holy Spirit's conviction of sin will be far less acute. "Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee" (Psalm 119:11). Failure to hide God's Word in our heart means that whatever sin we may commit will be compounded by the further error of failing to adequately repent and confess our unbelief and disobedience. Our conscience will suffer, as will our walk with the Lord in His peace and effectual service for His glory and the blessing of others.
The Psalmist offered one of the wisest prayers ever prayed: "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou me from secret faults" (Psalm 19:12). The Spirit of God and the Word of God unite to answer this prayer that proceeds from God's personal illumination administered by the Holy Spirit, and also the principled inspiration of Scriptural doctrine. We require both in order to rightly receive the grace that keeps our conscience cleansed in God's peace, and our walk consecrated by His power.
"O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles."
(Psalm 43:3)
"Search me, o God, and know my heart. Try (test) me and know may thoughts And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
(Psalm 139:23-24)
Weekly Memory Verse
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen
(II Peter 3:18).
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