Praise the Lord, Grace & Peace great people of our “Great God”…JESUS!

As I take a panoramic view of the times we are living in, it is only fitting to define them as PERILOUS. It is a time when the so called intellectual homo sapiens call wrong right, and right wrong according to Isa. 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! It is because of this warped ideology that we should appreciate being called out of this darkness into Jesus’ marvelous light, and not deviate from the foundation of our factual premise; which are the SCRIPTURES of GOD! Hence for this Golden Nugget I would like to provoke a premise thought “OUR Authority and OUR Sufficiency are in the Scriptures of God” My premise scriptures to provoke further gospel provocation are as follows:

Jos. 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

2Pe. 1:19-21 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: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

I can agree with many of you when you say, “I recognize the voice of Jesus embedded in the Scriptures of God.” Where else could we hear it? It is upon these blessed Scriptures that we cast all of our ideologies upon for merit; for it is the solid foundation on which our faith rest. We want nothing else to give us full assurance than His faithful Scriptures. No inward emotions can possibly add to absolute truth and stability, than God’s Scriptures. How do I know I was a sinner? By the Scriptures. How do I know that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners? By the Scriptures. How do I know that my sins are forgiven? Is it by my feelings or emotions? No, but by the Scriptures. The Scriptures tells me that “Christ has once suffered for sins.” But how do I know He suffered for my sins? Because the Scriptures says, “for the just and the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” I know I was “unjust” because the Scriptures tells me so. Hence Christ suffered for my sins and I am forgiven according to the effectiveness of Christ’s atoning suffering. I am brought to God according to the virtue and value of the Person and work of Jesus Christ. “He was delivered for my offenses and raised again for my justification.” Thus, “being justified by faith, I have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

My brothers and sister, you must lean like a little child on the Scriptures of God. Foundationally, it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we believe in and feed upon the Scriptures, hence I reiterate the Scriptures are the solid foundation on which our precious soul must perpetually rest. May all our doubts and fears vanish in the pure and precious light of His Scriptures which is “settled forever in heaven!”

Be assured that anything else, rest upon, and derives from infidels and ignoramuses. For they  have  truly derived and walk after the father of lies, Satan! Hence we shall treat it as such, as we judge it by the merit of the Scriptures of God, and reject them utterly. It amazes me that so many who have walked with the Lord, and have seen the promises of God unfold through His Scriptures, would even for a moment be troubled by the suggestions of Satan, whom we know to be “a liar from the beginning” let him trip us up! Ask a poor ignorant person how they know that the sun shines. Ask a simple believer how they know the Bible is the Scriptures of God. They will tell you they have experienced the power, effects, and benefits from both! Hence I ask you, has the Holy Spirit allowed you to experience the power of the Scriptures of God? If God does not allow us know that it is He who speaks to us in His Scriptures, who else can?

Now if I just merely believed  in the divine inspiration of the Scriptures from a human perspective, regardless of  how powerful that person’s testimony is, it must be validated that the Scriptures of God has become alive in that individual! Likewise, in order for it to be Faith activated in me, I must perpetually exercise what God’s Scriptures has declared. If it is only contingent upon what the Apostolic fathers wrote, or the various theologians taught, and if all the angels in heaven were to agree in declaring the Bible as the Scriptures of God, it cannot be a relevant experience until it becomes alive in me! Let’s take a contra-wise perspective; what if all of these aforementioned were to agree in declaring that the Bible is not the Scriptures of God, it still would not for a moment shake my confidence concerning any blasphemous or wicked suggestions; because I have experienced God’s Scriptures for myself.  Saints it is only when we take this position earnestly and reverently; can we say that we believe in the absolute inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, which were originally conveyed by God in the Hebrew and Greek language. Yet, we must keep in mind that there are some degree of error found in the various versions, copies, and translations. Yet, we must strive to speak only of the Scriptures as given by God.

My brothers and sisters, what an unspeakable discomfort it is to have an erroneous revelation! What shall we do, when we leave a divine interpretation concerning the doctrines on Sin, Redemption, Propitiation, Sanctification, Reconciliation, Glorification, etc; to non spiritual men and women! Wow, It becomes very chronic for all who seek absolute truth, especially when we look to these type of men and women to accredit Gods Scriptures! I guarantee you; they will and do rob many of the authority and value, that is found in the Scriptures of God. What impudent presumption it is for these type of individuals to dare render counsel in the Scriptures of God, to attempt to interpret what is and what is not worthy of God! If God does not allow us understand His Scriptures, if He cannot give us the assurance that it is He who speaks to us in the Holy Scriptures, what are we to do? Can any non spiritual man or woman unfold this better than God? If God does not render illumination in His Scriptures through His Holy Spirit, no man can! GOLDEN NUGGET!

Sadly, it seems to be fashionable today, in places where we would least expect it, to endorse all sorts of infidel books, and blasphemous attacks upon the Scriptures of God concerning the revelation that is in Jesus Christ. God, has graciously given us rest by faith, to believe His eternal Scriptures; what more do we want? An infidel’s book cannot help us. God is His own interpreter of scripture as well as in providence. Would you think of turning to some skeptical or rationalistic book to help you in the solution of the mysteries of God’s government? I personally will not! Then why turn to such for direction as to divine inspiration? I cannot refrain from rendering to you the magnificent passage found in 2 Tim.3:15-17 “And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.”

This is why I earnestly pray as a Pastor and brother in Christ, that we throw off any dark and skeptical suggestions which trouble us concerning our eternal stability and divine revelation in Christ Jesus!

The Scriptures of God carries its own credentials. It speaks for itself. It comes to us with an overwhelming body of evidence, both internal and external. Gen. 1:1 proclaims….IN THE BEGINNING GOD, if we or anyone doubt this one statement we cannot believe a single thing that follows in the sacred scriptures. Please understand that infidelity begins right here, and faith rests here. If a person has any sense at all, they will believe this opening statement, and if they do not believe it, then according to this same God they are a “FOOL.”  Psa. 53:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

As I studied the epistle in 1 Cor 11: 1-2  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. Etymologically this should be rendered “traditions” or “directions.” The apostle Paul does not specify what they were, but thank God, we know that whatever ordinances, traditions or the directions were; they are now essential for the Church to the end of time, and are clearly laid down in the Scriptures of the New Testament. Hence, it suffices us. Therefore men have no authority whatsoever to set up non scriptural rites and ceremonies in the Church of God; for when this is done, it can only be regarded by every soul that is loyal to Jesus Christ, as a daring usurpation of His authority over His body; which will eventually be brought into judgment!

My brothers and sisters in these last and evil days, I fervently test everything by the Scriptures of God, and I diligently strive to reject whatever cannot stand the test. Too many of us enjoy dwelling in the lab testing an Hypothesis, and never stand on the proven facts! Hence they go from week to week and year to year indulging in things without a foundation in the Holy Scriptures. I have personally experienced how many of these individuals have ended up. This is why I perpetually pray that the Holy Spirit will arouse the whole Body of Christ to possess a profound sense in the supreme authority and all-sufficiency that is found in the Holy Scriptures! GOLDEN NUGGET!

My brothers and sisters I perpetually pray that we will abstain from this erroneous spirit that exist in this Laodicea age! We all must strive to cultivate a truly humble and contrite spirit, a spirit of lowly obedience, a spirit that will lead us to bow down with unreserved submission to the authority of God’s Scriptures!  For “It is written” is a sentence of command and compelling power. It is a sentence uttered by our blessed Lord Jesus Christ at the opening of His public ministry and is referred to again and again in the course of His marvelous and overcoming ministry. It was reiterated with solemn emphasis to His disciples as He was about to pass into the heavens. Luke 24:46-50 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. Please allow this powerful scripture to be engraved on the tablets of our hearts!

Saints “the Holy Scriptures” should be that precious portion of every “man and woman of God.”  Hence I reiterate! 2 Tim. 3:14-17 “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be  perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works”

This is the formula to equip us for these “perilous times.” We need a thorough knowledge of the One from “whom we have learned” an accurate, personal, and experimental acquaintance with the “Holy Scriptures,” which is the pure fountain of divine authority; that changeless source of heavenly wisdom which even a child may possess, and the wise must possess so that they don’t perpetually error!

After walking with God for 39 years I have come to know that if a man or woman is not able to refer all their thoughts, all their convictions, all their principles to God as their living source, to Christ as their living center, and to “the Holy Scriptures” as their divine authority, they will never be able to get on through these “perilous times.” I emphasize, “Second-hand faith” will never do. We must embrace the ABSOLUTENESS OF TRUTH” directly from God, through the kiosk and the authority of “the Holy Scriptures.” I am experienced enough to know that God may use a man or woman to show me certain things in the Scriptures of God, but I do not embrace the man or woman, I embrace the God speaking through them!.

Note my brothers and sisters, it is “knowing (experiential knowledge) of whom thou hast learned.” When this is the case I am able, through the grace of Jesus Christ, to get through the thickest darkness and through all the devious paths of this wilderness world. The people of God are not left to drink of the muddy streams that flow along the channel of human tradition. We being the vessel of “unfeigned faith,” sit beside an ever-gushing fountain of “Holy Scriptures” to drink of its refreshing waters which fully satisfies our thirsty soul!

It is worthy to note that, although Apostle Paul was fully aware when writing his first epistle of Timothy’s “unfeigned faith” and of his knowledge from childhood’s because of his exposure to “the Holy Scriptures.” Yet Paul does not allude to these things until in his second epistle. He contemplates the appalling evidence concerning the “perilous times.” The reason is obvious. It is in the very midst of the perils of “the last days” that one has the most urgent need of “unfeigned faith” and “the Holy Scriptures.” GOLDEN NUGGET!

I reiterate that unless one is walking closely with God in the habitual practice of “unfeigned faith” and the unquestionable, accurate knowledge of “the Holy Scriptures,” they will make shipwreck! I have decided fervently to embrace the Joy that is set before me, as I lean on Gods precious Scriptures filled with promise and correction. Because I am convinced that “OUR Authority and OUR Sufficiency are in the Scriptures of God” Have a “Jesus Evening”