Inspired By God

2 Timothy 3:16-17

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

The Scripture (the Bible) is the written Word of God. In Jesus Christ we find the Living Word, "and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us as the only Begotten Son." The author of Hebrews inspired by the Holy Spirit writes, "for the word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword......" We must understand that God has spoken to us in these last days by His Son, Jesus Christ, and He continues to speak to us today through His written word. We are living in a dangerous church age; an age in which many are claiming to hear directly from the Holy Spirit, and bringing with them extra-biblical revelations through various means. Much harm, division, strife, confusion, and false doctrine has proceeded from those claiming new revelation. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, as well as Christ and the written Word of God have warned us not to heed those who are following after false doctrines, teachers, and teachings. We must be steadfast in remembering: they come to us "disguised as ministers of righteousness."

When the man of God teaches, he should do so from the written Word of God, pointing men to Jesus Christ, and defending "the faith once delivered to the saints." Paul, in this text is clear regarding the sufficiency of Scripture in preparing the man of God for his calling. The man of God is called to teach, to reprove, to correct, and to instruct in righteousness. This is his calling; it's the written Word of God, along with empowerment from the Holy Spirit that enables him to effectively minister. The man of God who fails to spend quality and quantity time in the written Word of God, is ill equipped for the mission to which he is called. Unless he saturates himself in the written Word of God, he will be incomplete and negligent in his preparation for ministry, lacking the thorough spiritual nourishment he needs in order to feed, defend, teach, reprove, correct, and instruct sheep in righteousness.

Much of what presents itself as truth today is but mere speculation, philosophy, and opinion. Far too many pulpits are ill equipped for the mission at hand in this church age. Far too many in the pews are following after false teachers who are well equipped in twisting the written Word of God in their efforts to appeal to the fleshly desires of the old, natural man. Instead they lap up tainted water from the putrid wells of the world, while feeding off spiritual cookies and cream, while rejecting both the milk and meat of the word. We are living in a church age when true men of God are accused of arrogance, mean-spirited, bigoted, and judgmental. They are chastised for teaching the truth, reproving, correcting, and instructing as they are called to do. 

The old sinful nature is rebellious and doesn't appreciate being disturbed by those who wield the sharpness of God's Word via having followed the command in "studying to show themselves approved as men who rightly divide the Word of Truth, that word that is sharper than any "two-edged sword." Those who are the least appreciated in the pulpits of America today are those who refuse to compromise the Word of God, those who dare to believe the Scriptures are inspired and sufficient to meet the spiritual needs of man.