Scripture: John 7.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

John 7:15-19 (NLT)

15 The people were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked.

16 So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. 17 Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. 18 Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. 19 Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.”

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

God has blessed us with His Word, and with His Holy Spirit so that we may be capable of discerning the legitimacy of the teaching and/or preaching of His Word. I believe that too often we take what is said from a pulpit, or from Bible teachers, at face value, and without proving the words back to the Bible. We have really become a people very accustomed to entertainment with very little thought required of us. There are two main principles taught here in this passage by Jesus on how we may KNOW, or test, if we are being told the truth of God is being taught or preached:

1. The words must agree with, and not contradict what the Bible says – In verse 17, Jesus said that we would know that the teaching is from God. The way that this is accomplished is by proving it against the Word of God. For a personal example: In one of my previous jobs I was an auditor/examiner, and if I found something wrong with the practice of the employee(s) I could write them up, but I had to support that write-up with supporting rules and/or regulation. I couldn’t just write them up because I felt it was wrong.
   
2. The words of the deliverer must point to God and not to themselves. In verse 18 Jesus teaches this principle very clearly. Ever walked away from a church service or a teaching class thinking “wow, he sure was full of himself this morning”?
   

Friends, it is so important that we not pollute our hearts with the words and personal wishes of mere man, but fill it to overflowing with the Word of God, the teachings of God, the values that Jesus would have us learn from Him. Let’s not be entertained at church, but rather let us receive a word from God through the teaching and preaching. Follow in your Bible as the Word is taught or preached. Keep your pastor or minister accountable by gently questioning him after the service. They will love you for participating and not just sitting there waiting for, or expecting entertainment!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, thank You for providing Your Holy Word for us to live by. Thank You for working in and through Your servants that teach and/or preach Your Word week in and week out. Please continue to provoke our hearts to be the right flock, by doing our part in testing the spoken word. Help us to love You and our pastor/preacher/minister/teacher enough to follow along with all they are teaching or preaching – by participating rather than merely criticizing, because we may not have heard something that tickles our fancy. Your Word is like a two-edged sword, so there are times that it will sting or hurt, because it will correct our wrong or evil thoughts or practices. Your Word is powerful, please help us to never take it lightly and never apply it to someone else, but to our very own lives.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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