Have we heard God speak on how to read the Bible?

"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:" Isaiah 28:10

The Leader

It is only God Who is the leader, guide, and teacher of His chosen people. His servants, the prophets and apostles, are only His spokepersons. They are the vessels who relay directly to the people. It is actually God Who is speaking. The servants only emit the sound message.

The "servants" cannot speak on their own; otherwise, they take the role of the Shepherd. In other words, the servants who are popularly known as "shepherds or pastors" only act as the speaker system. God is the one speaking behind the microphone. The speaker system cannot produce any sound of its own. If ever, this must be strange -- a noise.

It is the Speaker who chooses the sound system. It is God Who chooses His servants. The sound system does not have any discretion. The servant cannot impose on God.

Jeremiah 1:4-8 "Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee...Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD."

Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"

The audience know whether it is the Speaker talking or just noise coming from the speaker system. The people should know whether it is God Who is speaking, or just the opinion and philosophy of the "servants" they are hearing. The "voice" of the Speaker is clear and guileless. The philosophy of the servants, speaking on their own, is ambiguous and full of contradictions to the written word.

That is how the relationship among: God, His servants called prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers, and the Chosen should be. It is only God Who chooses and appoints His servants -- not any man. It is God’s prerogative and not the subject’s right or privilege that one is chosen as such.

God is a Spirit

If no one among the chosen servants is truly the guide and teacher, how can God lead His people when He is a Spirit? With the simple illustration: if God is the Speaker and the servants compose the sound system, it is not hard to imagine the role of the servants. Can the message heard as sound be separated from the Speaker? Or, could there be the message without the Speaker? Is the Speaker and the message heard as sound considered two, or one and the same? What is the role of the sound system?

Is not God the Word? Is not Jesus Christ the Word of God? God therefore is represented by His written words. That is how we see the importance of the Holy Bible which is authored or "dictated" by God to His prophets and apostles:

2 PETER 1:21 "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."

2 TIMOTHY 3:16 "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 unto all good works.

Do we not have access to the Word in the Holy Bible? Therefore, who leads us? The people reading, teaching, preaching, or the WRITTEN MESSAGE? Who explains the message contained in the words? In the illustration, if somebody in the audience has a question, who answers the question? The Speaker or the Sound Sytem?

God alone can explain His words and answer questions pertaining to Him. People may ask, "Did not God create man with an intellect to understand and comprehend things and events?" Of course yes! But, the intellect is limited only to matters pertaining to the physical life of man. Example: scientific, social, economic, and political. At most that man can get out of the word of God is MORALITY.

Morality involves only the physical or the outer aspect in man. God, however, is speaking "spiritual things." "Spiritual things" pertain to the spiritual or inner expression of man in the eyes of God. How many people can distinguish MORALITY, which is akin to RELIGIOSITY, from SPIRITUALITY?

Jesus Christ demonstrated the distinction between RELIGIOSITY, akin to MORALITY, and SPIRITUALITY in the following:

Matthew 23:25-26 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also."

The Scribes and Pharisees were the exponents of the literal application of the the word of God. They take pride in following the Law. Thus, they must have followed the commandments, "Thou shalt not steal, Honor thy father and thy mother, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife and goods, etc."

In the eyes of our Lord, this was only "cleanliness on the outside." This is MORALITY! This is RELIGIOSITY! But, is it already SPIRITUALITY? Let the the "servants" (Speaker Sytem) and God speak. Illustration:

"Thou shalt not steal."

For the "servants" to speak on their own, they will simply say: "It is a sin to steal money, property of any kind whether tangible (jewelry, car, etc.) or intangible (copyrights, etc.)." The person following the commandment, therefore, is morally upright. From man’s point of view, that is already spiritual righteousness and acceptability to God. This is an example in the use of the intellect in understanding the word of God, a "spiritual thing."

For God to speak, it means more than what the Natural Man comprehends. Here is an illustration of how God, through His words, explains His words. If we are to ask God, "Who is the spiritual "robber and a thief?"

John 10:1 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber."

The Natural man understands a DOOR to be made up of wood or wire or steel. But God is speaking "spiritual things." If we are to ask Christ what a spiritual door is:

John 10:9 "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,..."

But everybody believing in the Bible accepts that Jesus Christ is the "door," that is why all implore His NAME! While everybody believes that Jesus Christ is the Truth, HOW MANY REALLY PASS THROUGH THE TRUTH -- the spiritual DOOR? Some examples:

1. Is it truth (or passing through the "door") to call any person FATHER on earth in spiritual matters?

Matthew 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."

2. Is it truth (or passing through the "door") to call any person RABBI or MASTER (or leader or chief or shepherd or pastor or head), in spiritual matters?

Matthew 23:8 "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren."

3. Is it truth (or passing throught the "door") to revere the name of a person with honorific appellation as REVEREND and HOLY?

Psalms 111:9 "He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name."

4. Is it truth (or passing through the "door") to trust fellowmen and oneself in acquiring knowledge and wisdom about God?

James 1:5-8 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."

5. Plus, many more that people seem not to be passing through the spiritual DOOR!

Preaching by professing "servants of God"

Professing "servants of God" take upon themselves the capability and authority to explain the word of God. During the time of Christ, the Scribes and Pharisees were the exponents of the LITERAL WORD. They therefore followed the Law to the "letter." However, by simply following the "letter" of the law, while they appeared morally upright and righteous before the people, they were still short of God’s standard of righteousness. Spiritual ignorance or "blindness" is the cause. They might be sincere, but this was not enough:

Romans 10:2-3 "For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

And for "lack of knowledge," they followed their standard of righteousness, instead that of God:

Romans 10:3 "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."

In the eyes of the Jews, the Scribes and Pharisees must have been honest and sincere people. Otherwise, they would not have followed them! But in the eyes of Christ, what were they? They had not been "passing through the DOOR!"

"Thou shalt not commit adultery."

How do "servants" of God understand and preach this commandment? We hear them say, "To remain faithful to the spouse for those who are married, and to maintain sexual cleanliness, both in deeds and in thoughts, for those still unmarried."

Again, in the eyes of the people, this is moral probity and Godliness. However, for God to speak, it means much more than the Natural Man can understand. The Law does not only cover the physical, but the spiritual as well.

Who are the spiritual men and spiritual women to God? What is spiritual adultery, or uncleanness in the inside? How are physical male and female distinguished before God?

Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

Who is the spiritual MALE or HUSBAND in the following?

Jeremiah 3:14 "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you..."

Isaiah 54:5 "For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called."

The physical husband plants his seeds unto his wife to bear children. In like manner, the spiritual HUSBAND (God), also plants His "seeds" unto the WIFE (physical male and female) to bear spiritual children or "fruits." The "seeds" are the word of God, the truth.

Luke 8:11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God."

The spiritual children or "fruit(s)" are the following:

Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

If God is the spiritual HUSBAND, who is the "other man" who also wants to plant his "seeds" on her? There is no other but the OLD SERPENT!

Revelation 12:9 "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

If the "seeds" of God are His words, the TRUTH; then the "seeds" of the "other man" are also the words of God that are not in line with the trurth! Have we not read that Satan is also quoting verses in the Bible?

Matthew 4:6 "And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone."

Satan was quoting the following verses in the book of Psalms:

Psalms 91:11-12 "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."

Spiritual adultery, therefore, aside from literal-physical adultery, is the sum and substance of the commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." While the Jews under the leadership of the Scribes and Pharisees religiously followed the comandment, our Lord still blasted them:

Matthew 12:39 "But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterousgeneration..."

Matthew 16:4 "A wicked and adulterous generation... And he left them, and departed."

Woman not allowed to speak in the Church

It is written, a woman is not allowed to speak in the church. She is directed to only ask the husband:

1 Corinthians 14:33-35 "For God is not the author of confusion... Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience...And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands..."

How does the Natural Man understand this? What is the explanation of the "servants of God" for this? With the use of the intellect, it simply means what it says, so they assert. After God has revealed who the MAN or HUSBAND and the WOMAN or WIFE are, the "servants of God’s" explanation is very very far from the truth. They support their contention with many Bible verses. But this simply contradicts what is written!

HUMAN DOCTRINES and PURE BIBLE DOCTRINES are clearly distinguished here. Human doctrines are fully supported by Bible verses. They are, however, cannot be considered pure Bible doctrines for they find contradiction to what is written. Falsehood cannot be fused with Truth. Light cannot mix with darkness.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?... for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,"

We have only given two examples. Can we imagine the magnitude of the damage caused by vashness of the word of God being explained by the so-called "servants of God?"

"SPEAK FOR GOD" and "speak for God"

Can we now distinguish the "voice" of the SPEAKER from the "noise" of the SPEAKER SYSTEM? Can we distinguish the explanation of God of His words from the personal explanation of so-called "servants of God?" Voicing only the "explanation of God" of His words is "speaking for God." This is what Noah, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, other prophets; and Paul, John, Peter, and other apostles did. The Scribes and other religious leaders "SPOKE FOR GOD" when they took upon themselves the "AUTHORITY TO UNDERSTAND AND EXPLAIN" the word of God.

Now it is very clear why He called the religious leader hypocrite for cleaning only the "outside." How can they clean the "inside" when they cannot even "see" it? Can they see the difference between MORALITY, which is akin to RELIGIOSITY, and SPIRITUALITY? Spirituality is cleanliness of the "inside." Religiosity, gauged by morality, is limited to the cleanliness of the "outside."

The Spiritual Language of God

Since God is a spirit, it follows that His words are spiritual. The Holy Bible, therefore, is unlike other books authored by men. It is "sealed with seven seals, and only the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the root of David can break the seals and open the book." In essence, only Jesus Christ can explain His words.

JOHN 6:63 "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

ROMANS 7:14 "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal..."

2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Even Christ’s apostles did not understand what He was saying, till our Lord explained or demonstrated the meaning. Example:

JOHN 2:19-20 "Jesus...said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?"

Did Peter, John and James and the other disciples understand what our Lord was talking about at that moment? No! It was only after our Lord "explained" it by means of a demonstration:

JOHN 2:22 " When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said."

JOHN 2:21 "... he spake of the temple of his body."

It is very clear, but only a few know about it, that the "Word of God is a spirit." No one, but He alone therefore, can and should explain it. Did not Ezekiel realize that God was speaking in parables?

EZEKIEL 20:49 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

Did not Jesus Christ speak in parables?

MARK 4:34 "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."

Therefore, the word of God are expressed in parables. If it were not so, our Lord Jesus Christ would not have stated:

MATTHEW 5:18 "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

If everything written in the Sacred Scriptures will all come to pass, are they not therefore like prophecies that are being fulfilled? When? Only in the future? It is written "there is nothing new."

ECCLESIASTES 1:9 "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun."

Therefore, what are written are fulfilled "all the time." It is for this reason that "no prophecy of the scriptures is of any private interpretation."

2 PETER 1:20 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."

The word of God are expressed in parables. The word of God are "prophecies." Who can explain and decipher them? Some people take the role of God to explain the parables and the prophecies. These are the religious leaders who, like the Teachers of the Law during the time of Christ, were the last persons to know the great message of the word.

1. Did Nicodemus, a Teacher of the Law, understand the parable of "born again?" (John 3:3-10)

"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:" -- John 3:1

"The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God..." -- John 3:2

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." -- John 3:3

"Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" -- John 3:4

Look how Nicodemus, a teacher of the word of God, cannot understand spiritual things! This revealed his true "color." While the people listening to him thought that he was a man of God, in the eyes of Jesus, he was only a NATURAL MAN!

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." -- John 3:5

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." -- John 3:6

"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." -- John 3:7

"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." -- John 3:8

"Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?" -- John 3:9

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?" -- John 3:10

How many preachers and teachers of the Bible today, thought to be messengers of God, understand "spiritual things?" As our Lord said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words will not pass away." What is written about Nicodemus is a part of the word of God. It is truth. Will truth pass away? Cannot our Lord see what He saw in Nicodemus in our time? Do people see it? If they are the followers of these "messengers of God," where will they both end?

MATTHEW 15:14 "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

2. Did the Scribe who asked the "first of all the commandments" recognized the "One Lord and one God?"

MARK 12:28 "And one of the scribes came, and... asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?"

MARK 12:29 "And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:"

Of course the Scribes and Pharisees believed in "One Lord and one God." In fact they professed to worship the God of their father Abraham. But that is only from their point of view. This is, however, contrary to Christ’s vantage point:

JOHN 8:54 "Jesus answered... it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:"

JOHN 8:55 "Yet ye have not known him..."

How many people profess to believe in "One Lord and one God." Many! Does that satisfy the prerequisite to "Loving God"? To believe in "One Lord and one God" is not enough.

JAMES 2:19 "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe..."

It is the clear recognition of God that is the first step in "loving God," and then ultimately the "love for fellowmen." (Mark 12:29-31) Which comes first? To KNOW or to LOVE? Perhaps nobody will say, "To love comes first before recognition." What is unfortunate is, while many of us know this by heart, when this applies to matters pertaining to God, we "cannot see" it. Has the word of God passed away on "spiritual blindness?" Is there anything new about the word of God? Does it change with the times? Where is the place of the theology on EXEGESIS?

The False Christs

Our Lord gave the warning to His disciples, and not to everybody, regarding the appearance of the "false Christs." Therefore, only His chosen can discern it:

Mat 24:23-26 "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

Have we heard anyone among the Bible preachers professing to be a CHRIST? Of course nobody would do that! But Jesus Christ was speaking "spiritual things." Do people "see" it?

1. Who is the only one entitled to the title and honor of RABBI? Rabbi means Master (or Leader, or Chief, or Guide, or Teacher, or Pastor, or Shepherd, or Giver, or Provider).

Mat 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

2. Who is the only one entitled to the title and honor of FATHER?

MATTHEW 23:9-10 "And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ."

Yet today, some religious leaders feel insulted if they are not addressed as Father!

3. Who is the only authority to explain the word of God, for they are all expressed in parables? They are like "prophecies" that "not a jot or tittle will ever come to pass without being fulfilled."

2 PETER 1:20 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."

MARK 4:34 "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."

In Christianity TODAY, who take the role of Jesus Christ explaining the "parables" and interpreting the "prophecies?" Perhaps, it is only at this point that "eyes" and "ears" are beginning to open!"

4. Which only NAME is "holy" and "reverend?" Today, how many messengers of God appropriate these titles and prefix it to their names?

Psa 111:9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

What is this NAME in the Old Testament and New Testament?

ISAIAH 45:23 "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear."

Phil 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord..."

Our Lord Jesus Christ did not even admit that He was good when the Rich Young Ruler called Him so:

LUKE 18:18-19 "And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God."

Yet today, it is "more than good" that modern apostles of Christ see themselves to be. The word "Holy" and "Reverend" are prefixed to their names! The warning that our Lord gave to His disciples has not passed away in our time:

Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

If we are to read the following verses in the Old Testament, after God revealed His SPIRITUAL LANGUGE, we will find how "familiar" the message is as it applies in our time.

Ezekiel 34:1-15 "And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool...but ye feed not the flock. 4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken...but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. 5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 6...my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. 7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; 8 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, ... but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; 9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; 10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock... for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. 11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered... 13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries,...and feed them... 14 I will feed them in a good pasture,...there shall they lie in a good fold...15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD."

Now we understand what God meant when He said, "the shepherds of Israel;" but countering, "the sheep were scattered because there is no shepherd," as if God is contradicting Himself. It is also made clear why God says, "should not the shepherds feed the flock?" Why did God say, "the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not the flock?" And why did God say, "search my sheep, and seek them out.?" Were they not yet in His fold? What did God mean by saying, "I will bring them out from the people, and feed them?"

Who were the "beasts of the field" that God was referring to? The wolves as the Natural Man understands them to be? Were they literal beasts or human beings? Paul has something to say about the beasts:

1 Corinthians 15:32 "If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me..."

Have we read about the BEASTS in the book of Revelation? God’s chosen people are to become prey to these BEASTS if God would not deliver them! The BEASTS are the False Christs. Can we imagine the different recognitions about Jesus Christ?

Revelation 13:11 "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon."

Revelation 17:8 "The beast that thou sawest was, and is not... they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is."

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