Times of great shaking have always been opportunities for the people of God to re-orient their lives around the truth of scripture.
What about today, in this moment of uncertainty and global shaking? I believe there is an invitation from Heaven for the people of God to re-orient their lives on the sure footing of scripture.
When everything else is shaking around us, there is an intuitive response for the believer to turn to that which cannot be shaken—the eternal truths of God’s word.
Interestingly, the last command of the Old Testament was Remember the law of my servant, Moses (Mal. 4:4). It was a clear exhortation for God’s people to not forget the truth of scripture. This command came in the context of Malachi 4 where God prophesied that He would would move in such a way that there would be a great release of salvation, healing and revival in the nations. As well, in the same breath, He declared that there would be great shakings and judgments released in the nations. God was saying to His people: in this epic moment when my glory is being expressed in both my kindness and my severity, don’t forget the truth of scripture that anchors you!
I tend to resonate with that moment foretold in Malachi 4 and our current moment of shaking and crisis today. I feel the significance of Malachi 4:4 echoing to us: Remember My word! I believe there is a prophetic call for the people of God today to draw near to Him in His word.
As we respond to this heavenly call to scripture, I want to share (3) truths that I remind myself of when I approach the Bible. These truths help calibrate my thinking and ready my heart to approach scripture with reverence, awe and readiness to hear and obey the word of God.
#1 The Holy Spirit Inspired the Writers of Scripture
When we come to scripture we are not coming to an ordinary book; we come to the authoritative and inspired word of Heaven. The God of the universe has revealed Himself—He has spoken to us through the Holy Scriptures.
Many today are seeking the voice of a prophet to gain wisdom and understanding as to what God might be saying in our global moment. Of course, I affirm the prophetic ministry today (listen, test and receive what is from God!). However, my prayer for you is the you would not fall into the trap of valuing the voice of a prophet more than you do the voice of the ultimate, trustworthy and true prophetic word found in the Holy Scriptures.
The scriptures are our primary place of communion with the Holy Spirit.
#2 The Holy Spirit Illuminates the Readers
When I approach scripture I am continually praying Paul’s prayer, That the Father of glory would give me a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:17–19). I remind myself that the Bible is not merely an academic text that requires study and memorization (both of which I value and pursue).The disciples had a history of rigorous study and memorization (of scripture) and in Luke 24 still required the resurrected Jesus to open their minds to understand the scriptures. That’s what we need in our Bible reading today—the present day ministry of the Holy Spirit to open our understanding, our heart and our thinking to the truth of God’s word.
When we come to scripture we ought to ask for the illuminating work of the Spirit! This is a primary way we hear from God.
#3 The Holy Spirit Empowers the Followers
Whenever we purpose in our hearts to be not only hearers, but doers of God's word, we make ourselves targets for the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Helper, the One sent from Jesus to illuminate God’s word to us and to empower us to walk in the truth of that word. Whenever the Holy Spirit illuminates something to us in scripture, there is always an accompanying grace available to us to walk it out—that’s the beauty of the promise of the Spirit’s empowerment.
There you have it: (3) truths that can calibrate you whenever you approach God’s word. My prayer for you is that you would have rich encounters with God in the scriptures. That your life would be changed by the things the Spirit illuminates to you and that you would be thoroughly equipped for every good work the Father has planned for you in this epic moment of human history.
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Adam Narciso is the visionary and pioneer of Catalyst Ministries, a training and global outreach mission for the next generation. Since 2009 Adam has trained and mobilized over 40 international evangelism teams and has equipped thousands in the areas of identity, hearing God and evangelism via seminars around the world. Adam has preached the gospel in city campaigns, universities, high schools and bamboo huts in remote villages, all with supernatural effect. Communicating with humor and fresh biblical insight, Adam is a unique prophetic evangelist who equips everyday Jesus-followers to live authentic, New Testament Christianity, discovering their highest joy in the Great Commandment and their unique assignment in the Great Commission.
