"Behold. the days come," saith the Lord God, "that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord, and shall not find." (Amos 8:11-12)
The message here is clear. As believers in Jesus Christ, we need to diligently seek His righteousness, and in so doing, become fully knowledgeable in His Word. If not, we may soon find ourselves also "wandering from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east" seeking the Word of the Lord, but sadly, unable to find it. (Amos 8:12)
Why do I say this? Because the world in which we live today readily advances "spiritual intellectuals" and/or "representatives of man-made religion" that present their "own created wisdom" -- over citing the life giving Word "as it is written."
Even though Jesus repeatedly said, "It is written" and others in His Word too, it appears that we still downplay the importance of Jesus' instructions. That is, "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4-5) Indeed, we are to study His Word to show ourselves approved unto God, "a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." (II Timothy 2:15)
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ wrote: "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, and beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, charity.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither barren nor unfruitful of our Lord Jesus Christ ... but he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fail." (II Peter 1:2-10)
But let's not stop there for there is yet another reason to hide His Word in our heart. We see this when we study the scriptural passages whereby Jesus is tempted in the wilderness. Starting in Matthew's account:
"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." But He answered and said, "It is written -- man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple, 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." (Matthew 4:6; Psalm 91:11-12; Hebrews 1:14; Romans 8:17)
Jesus said unto him, "It is written again -- Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, and saith unto Him, "All these things will I give thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me."
Then saith Jesus unto him, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him." (Matthew 4:1-11)
The message here is clear. As believers in Jesus Christ, we need to diligently seek His righteousness, and in so doing, become fully knowledgeable in His Word. If not, we may soon find ourselves also "wandering from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east" seeking the Word of the Lord, but sadly, unable to find it. (Amos 8:12)
Why do I say this? Because the world in which we live today readily advances "spiritual intellectuals" and/or "representatives of man-made religion" that present their "own created wisdom" -- over citing the life giving Word "as it is written."
Even though Jesus repeatedly said, "It is written" and others in His Word too, it appears that we still downplay the importance of Jesus' instructions. That is, "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4-5) Indeed, we are to study His Word to show ourselves approved unto God, "a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." (II Timothy 2:15)
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ wrote: "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, and beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, charity.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither barren nor unfruitful of our Lord Jesus Christ ... but he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fail." (II Peter 1:2-10)
But let's not stop there for there is yet another reason to hide His Word in our heart. We see this when we study the scriptural passages whereby Jesus is tempted in the wilderness. Starting in Matthew's account:
"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." But He answered and said, "It is written -- man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple, 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." (Matthew 4:6; Psalm 91:11-12; Hebrews 1:14; Romans 8:17)
Jesus said unto him, "It is written again -- Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, and saith unto Him, "All these things will I give thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me."
Then saith Jesus unto him, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him." (Matthew 4:1-11)
The gospel of Mark touches on this encounter as well, stating: "And immediately [after Jesus was baptized] the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness, tempted of satan and was with the wild beasts and the angels ministered unto Him." (Mark 1:12-13)
And again, note that the record of Luke differs somewhat again.
"And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days, He did eat nothing, and when they were ended, He afterward hungered. And the devil said unto Him, "If Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written: that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God."
"And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days, He did eat nothing, and when they were ended, He afterward hungered. And the devil said unto Him, "If Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written: that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God."
"And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, "All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them, for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I give it. If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine."
And Jesus answered and said unto him, "Get thee behind Me, satan, for it is written, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." (Luke 4:8)
"And he brought Him to Jerusalem and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto Him, "If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down from hence, for it is written, HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER THEE, TO KEEP THEE; and IN HANDS THEY SHALL BEAR THEE UP, LEST AT ANY TIME THOU DASH THY FOOT AGAINST A STONE." (Luke 4:10-11; Psalm 91:11-12)
Jesus answering said unto him, "It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord Thy God." And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee; and there went out a fame of Him throughout all the region around about." (Luke 4:13-14)
Note that not only did the Lord Jesus know the scriptures and respond, saying, "It is written," but so did satan know what was written. And, as we note here, the latter is not afraid to use what is written in His Word to influence (or conversely) condemn those who seek Jesus.
Note that not only did the Lord Jesus know the scriptures and respond, saying, "It is written," but so did satan know what was written. And, as we note here, the latter is not afraid to use what is written in His Word to influence (or conversely) condemn those who seek Jesus.
Interestingly, Paul wrote: "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect ... for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God, for it is written: I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE AND WILL BRING TO NOTHING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRUDENT."
So therefore, where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe -- for the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness, but unto them which are called -- both Jews and Greeks -- Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God; because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many noble [are called] but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are .. that no flesh should glory in His presence.
But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, that according as it is written, "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (I Corinthians 1:30-31)
So don't let supposed earthly wisdom prevent you from searching the scriptures for your knowledge and wisdom that only comes from our Lord and Saviour. And know too, that "He hath made Him sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (II Corinthians 5:21) Stand in the offering plate.
So therefore, where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe -- for the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness, but unto them which are called -- both Jews and Greeks -- Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God; because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many noble [are called] but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are .. that no flesh should glory in His presence.
But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, that according as it is written, "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (I Corinthians 1:30-31)
So don't let supposed earthly wisdom prevent you from searching the scriptures for your knowledge and wisdom that only comes from our Lord and Saviour. And know too, that "He hath made Him sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (II Corinthians 5:21) Stand in the offering plate.
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