THE ANTIDOTE FOR DRIFTING
by Stephen ManleyThe first recorded business meeting of the early church (Acts 1:15-26) was called to address the issue of the office left vacant by Judas. The reason given for calling the meeting was the Scripture. Peter said to the group, “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas,” (Acts 1:16).
There are several astounding implications from this statement! They believed that the Scripture had to be fulfilled. The Greek word translated had to be is often translated “must” or “ought.” It has the idea of “Divine decree.” The early church believed the sovereign hand of Almighty God was supporting the Scriptures. The document of the Scriptures is as sure and dependable as God is! If the Scripture is not true, then God is not true.
Jesus appeared to His disciples in the upper room. After eating with them, He opened the Scriptures to them (Luke 24:44-49). Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things MUST be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me,” (Luke 24:44). Jesus viewed His life experience through the fulfillment of the Scriptures. He based His purpose for living upon the Scriptures. God’s sovereign hand was active in producing the life of Jesus as God revealed it in what He said, the Scriptures.
A young college student indicated she was taught that only the actual words of Jesus were authentic in the Scriptures. Everything else was questionable because of hearsay, paganism and tradition. If you accept only what Jesus said then you will certainly embrace the entire Old Testament. Jesus speaks of it as the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms. According to Jesus, the sovereign hand of God brings this to pass. Remember the resurrected Lord is speaking these words. He is on the other side of the grave and has a better perspective than you or me. You or I may not agree with the authority and authenticity of the Old Testament, but you must admit the resurrected Christ believed in it.
If you believe the Living Word is actually speaking and directing the Written Word, would you not base your entire life upon it? Would you not search its pages night and day? Would not the Scriptures be at the heart of every sermon, Sunday school class and counseling session? If our children ask us a question, would we not immediately take them to the Scriptures? We would listen to the Scriptures before we would listen to Dr. Phil. If we did this would it not keep us from drifting? The popular whims of doctrine will not affect us as we allow the Author of the Book to continue to reveal Himself to us.
Another strong implication emerges from the statement Peter made at the first recorded business meeting in which the Holy Spirit spoke. Peter proceeds to quote two Scriptures from the Book of Psalms (Acts 1:20). He actually says that the Holy Spirit spoke these words. You and I might question it, but obviously Peter believed the Book of Psalms was spoken by God. In a moment of crisis, the early church (numbering in the thousands) broke into praise. In this praise session they quoted from the Book of Psalms. They cried out, “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:” (Acts 4:24-25). Evidently the entire early church believed God was responsible for speaking the Book of Psalms. Paul was imprisoned in a house in Rome. The Jews came to spend a day with him. During that time he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening (Acts 28:23). The truth of the Word divided the congregation. Before they left Paul had one more word to say, “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers…” (Acts 28:25). He then proceeded to quote from the Book of Isaiah. We argue about the authorship of this book. Some think it was a compilation of two or more authors. Paul, who was closer to its original writing than we are, believed it was spoken by God.
What would happen if you and I believed the sovereign hand of God was behind the Scriptures? What would happen if you and I believed it was actually spoken by God? When you read the Scripture, it is as if the lips of Jesus part and He actually speaks to you! Would we not constantly apply His instruction to our lives? Would we not make His Word the pivot point of every decision? Would this not keep us from drifting?
Drifting always takes place when we make the Scriptures only one avenue of revelation among many. The peak of self-centered carnality is to think my academic opinion is equal to what God has spoken. My thinking made superior to His wisdom and revelation is the pinnacle of folly. Folly still abides in believing God is speaking His Word, but I must interpret it for my day. A thorough knowledge of theology and my culture does not give me the ability to adequately apply truth. The indwelt Author must speak His Word to my life and I must listen intently as He applies it to my living. “Jesus is Lord of my life” means that I bend my entire life experience under the authority of what He speaks through His Word. I am not adequate to interpret it; I must surrender to it!
The Author of the Scriptures will not allow us to drift if we listen to His Word. He will not allow us to miss His revelation of truth for our day, if we will come under the authority of His Word. Is this not the solution for our drifting?
(Published on this site with permission of Dr. Stephen Manley)
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