TOPIC: LET THE SPIRIT SHOW YOU
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 1-2; John 7:32-53
Memory verse: “They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search and look for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet” John 7:52 (KJV)
Each time I come across areas in the scriptures where the pharisees are arguing with Jesus I begin to wonder why they are so highly recognised and revered with respect to their knowledge of the scriptures. Yet, when the Jesus the whole scriptures is all about came to them they could not recognise Him. Rather, they created religion which is man’s attempt to know God with no real relationship to Him.
The scripture are of God but cannot be entirely understood on its own without the Spirit if God. The scriptures is like a door handle to God. The door holds the key to the next room (God) but this room is bigger than the door (the scriptures). God is bigger than the scriptures but the scriptures is a stepping stone to God. In Acts 10, Peter was very familiar with the scriptures and so refused to eat the unclean things given to him in the vision thrice. Yet, God has updated His word through His angel and His Spirit in a vision to Peter by bringing the gentiles in through Cornelius (Acts 10:1-48).
Even the brethren contended with Peter for going into the house of Cornelius, a gentile, and eating there (Acts 11:1-2). The brethren too were stuck in religion. Please be careful who you oppose because though the law of Moses did say something but God has updated it in the now through Peter. God does not owe you an explanation; He knows where He has placed His authority so he expects you to line up with it. Because of the presence of the spirit in the brethren they were able to line up with Peter and the gentiles came in fully.
In today’s bible reading, the Pharisees refused to shift grounds even when Jesus Himself came to them. They were even bold to refer their colleague, Nicodemus to the scriptures! “They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search and look for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet” John 7:52 (KJV). Lets hold fast to the Spirit of God for He teaches us the mind and things of God as seen in 1 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV), “For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God.”
Without the Spirit of God leading us in our walk with God we would be stuck in religion like the Pharisees and such christianity is outdated christianity and the problem of the church.
Prayer: Father pour out Your Spirit again and again upon Your people so as to know Your mind at all times in Jesus name.
Bro. Worthmore Aghanenu