Got your ears on?

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ScottA

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Much of the New Testament was not meant for all people, but only for “He who has an ear” to hear “what the Spirit says to the churches.”

In other words, even that which is written was not to be heard or understood by everyone who reads it. But rather, that we have entered that time foretold of when God would pour out his spirit upon all flesh…and only those who hear what the Spirit says to the churches (His body) would get the message. So, that “He who has an ear” qualifier is not a “listen up” message to sharpen up our Hebrew and Greek language skills and our hermeneutical approach to the scriptures, it is a blatant statement indicating that the written words are not the message, but are spoke as Christ explained, saying, “My words are spirit.”

This whole deviation from the written word began with Christ and pertains to everything going forward. Oh, there are many practical matters covered in the non-spiritual text messages, just as in all the scriptures – but the real message going forward was only spiritual. Which is not just me saying so, but Christ who announced it.

So…has this been received and encouraged in the church? In a word – No, not even.

Instead, what we see is people pouring over the word giving highfalutin definitions, accounts of history and personal experience which are mostly moral in nature rather than spiritual. And then there are the institutional churches that have made every passage a religious practice and a ritual, a mockery of worldly significance pointing to more worldly things, rather than being the foreshadowing example that they were originally intended to be pointing to heavenly things. And my favorite: Thinking that every good word from God should be "applied" to your worldly life, as if that were the only purpose of God. All of which gives greater glory to the practice of what is written, than to the actual meaning behind it. This is all just people who cannot hear what the Spirit says…playing church, and worse…acting spiritual. To say nothing of the barking and falling down gobbly gook – it’s all quite innocent looking, even well intended, the stuff of “good Christians.”

And the lectures…OMG! The book-learned lawyers and Pharisees of our time are the worst – and they have no excuse. They have everything known to man at their fingertips and flaunt it…all propagated on dead works and literary nonsense.

But the point of this thread is not just to rant. It is to point out that there are those who have been entrusted and assigned to what it is that God is doing in our midst during the church age…and brilliantly, by design, there are also those who are not paddling forward, but are actually paddling backwards, while some are just splashing about. It’s brilliant! Things are moving forward, but many are held in a type of blindness to slow our progress until we reach the end of all generations. This is the result of God confounding all language at the tower of Babel. But those whom God has intended that do not know what they are talking about, who are deaf to what the Spirit is saying to those in the church who do hear, they are not the enemy – some are. But most are just the blind and deaf that have existed throughout every age, and yet are in their own way, servants nonetheless – just not to be believed. So, they can be Christian, followers of Christ, doing many good works…but “hearing what the Spirit says to the churches” is simply not their spiritual gift.

So, we don’t have to squabble with these good folk – but we should know that not everyone has equal access to spiritual truth – just “those who have an ear.” And we should know from the scriptures, yeah, from Christ, that this is His intended arrangement, and that we should not expect to vote and have an equal say as contemporary Christians just because we have a mind and a bible. Nor is it any different for the leaders in the church – that was never specified. The only qualification given, was “He who has and ear” and hears “what the Spirit says to the churches.” And thus, if you are one who has not been overcome by the Spirit - you don't have to go on knowingly or unknowingly paddling against the church (against the goads)...you would do better to just be still.

These are the real walking orders for the church age – which have been there in the scriptures all along: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
 
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101G

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yes indeed, "He who has an ear” to hear “what the Spirit says to the churches.”
that's one who want to "hear" what the Spirit says, scripture,
Romans 10:18 "But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world".

here's the catch,
Romans 10:12 "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. (a response is needed to the call).

Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:14 "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Romans 10:15 "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Romans 10:16 "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.


1 Corinthians 8:6 "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

1 Corinthians 8:7 "Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled".

in order to Get this KNOWLEDGE .... in all men, maybe men need to first read,
Acts 8:30 "And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

Acts 8:31 "And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him".

READ, and HEAR, just a suggestion to help.

the eunuch was reading. hence, study to show thyself approved unto God. STOP, study, not to LEARN anything, but by studying, one shows God that one is interested in his word, (hence the response to the call), and God will send the HELPER, be it by Jesus Christ, meaning by men or women..... whom he has chosen

so READ your bibles, and when one hear at least it, the word of God, want be foreign to your ears when you hear it again.

be blessed.
 
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Windmillcharge

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Much of the New Testament was not meant for all people, but only for “He who has an ear” to hear “what the Spirit says to the churches.”
his whole deviation from the written word began with Christ and pertains to everything going forward. Oh, there are many practical matters covered in the non-spiritual text messages, just as in all the scriptures – but the real message going forward was only spiritual. Which is not just me saying so, but Christ who announced it.'where?'[/QUOTEfrom Christ, that this is His intended arrangement 'where?'

An interesting argument, but one that is not backed up by scripture or by practice in times of revival.

The apostals preached from the OT and from what was to become the NT.

In every time of revival the bible together with prayer and preaching has been central to that revival.

God uses the bible to reach us all.
You say we should listen to the Spirit speaking to us. I agree, but that spoken word is always tested by the written word. as proverbs3:5+6 says:-Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

We are to trust in God and not on our intellectual understanding, but to submit to what we know are his ways as outlined in the bible.

We can all come up with clever ideas and disagree, but are those ideas the ones God has used to change the world?

So far the preaching and the living of Christianity are what have changed the world.
 

ScottA

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@Windmillcharge

Your quote and comment are messed up so I couldn't reply with the quote feature...but you asked:

"'where?'[/QUOTEfrom Christ, that this is His intended arrangement 'where?'

...Except your question doesn't make sense because, not only did I quote the scripture of Christ announcing (which He did several times) that "he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches", but so did you quote it.

Was there another question?

As for your other comments...yes, God has used the bible/the written word, but that is just one thing, and the gifts of the spirit are many. But also, He did not say, "I will send you a Bible to lead you into all truth", but rather the [Holy] Spirit of Truth.
 
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Enoch111

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But the point of this thread is not just to rant. It is to point out that there are those who have been entrusted and assigned to what it is that God is doing in our midst during the church age
Well it sure sounds like a rant, since in your view just about everyone else is mistaken, and you have finally got a handle on the truth. Sounds like Guru Scott.

There is no doubt that Christ said that His words are Spirit and they are also Life. What did this mean? That without the indwelling Holy Spirit, Scripture would not make sense. The words of Christ address the spirit and can only be understood by the help of the Spirit. And without the New Birth by the Holy Spirit, no one could have eternal life, or see, or enter the Kingdom of God.

There is also no doubt that Jesus said repeatedly He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches or He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

What was the Lord saying? Was He not saying that "You who are hearing or reading these words -- are you ready, willing, and able to do what I am telling you to do? My words demand a response and action on your part?"

By the same token, Christians are urged to know that with the guidance and teaching of the Holy Spirit they will know "all things" as related to divine revelation and the teachings of Christ: But ye have an unction [anointing] from the Holy One, and ye know all things...But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:20,27)

Scripture is designed to foster spiritual growth and spiritual understanding. But it is not mysticism and Gnosticism. It is plain truth with great plainness of speech (as Paul said). He also quoted from the OT when he said: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Rom 10:8,9)

Also, in order to arrive at a proper understanding of what is stated in the English translation, Christians must be aware of the Hebrew and Greek words, which frequently have different meanings depending on context.
 

ScottA

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yes indeed, "He who has an ear” to hear “what the Spirit says to the churches.”
that's one who want to "hear" what the Spirit says, scripture,
Romans 10:18 "But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world".

here's the catch,
Romans 10:12 "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. (a response is needed to the call).

Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:14 "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Romans 10:15 "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Romans 10:16 "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.


1 Corinthians 8:6 "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

1 Corinthians 8:7 "Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled".

in order to Get this KNOWLEDGE .... in all men, maybe men need to first read,
Acts 8:30 "And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

Acts 8:31 "And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him".

READ, and HEAR, just a suggestion to help.

the eunuch was reading. hence, study to show thyself approved unto God. STOP, study, not to LEARN anything, but by studying, one shows God that one is interested in his word, (hence the response to the call), and God will send the HELPER, be it by Jesus Christ, meaning by men or women..... whom he has chosen

so READ your bibles, and when one hear at least it, the word of God, want be foreign to your ears when you hear it again.

be blessed.
Indeed, gentiles are like the eunuch, not able to produce, but able to hear and be saved. But he who has been given an ear to hear what the Spirit says to the churches, has been grafted in, able to bear fruit [of the spirit], not a child of the flesh or of the law, but of the Spirit only. These are the times in which we live.
 

ScottA

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Well it sure sounds like a rant, since in your view just about everyone else is mistaken, and you have finally got a handle on the truth. Sounds like Guru Scott.
Although it is not the main focus of the discussion...should one not rant who has been abused for lifting up the Spirit among his own people?
 

ScottA

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By the same token, Christians are urged to know that with the guidance and teaching of the Holy Spirit they will know "all things" as related to divine revelation and the teachings of Christ: But ye have an unction [anointing] from the Holy One, and ye know all things...But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:20,27)

Scripture is designed to foster spiritual growth and spiritual understanding. But it is not mysticism and Gnosticism. It is plain truth with great plainness of speech (as Paul said). He also quoted from the OT when he said: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Rom 10:8,9)

Also, in order to arrive at a proper understanding of what is stated in the English translation, Christians must be aware of the Hebrew and Greek words, which frequently have different meanings depending on context.
Good discussion points. But I must say, the above two comments do not agree. The first comment explains the process of receiving truth from the Holy Spirit. But your second comment wavers to suggest that the Holy Spirit is not enough.

I would suggest that the two scriptures you quoted have you straddling the very point of transition of which this topic was to be about.

During Paul's time he was "all things to all people" (that he might save some), meaning, he spoke to those who came up under the word only, but also to those who came up under the Spirit only. In other words, the scriptures (the law and the prophets) were given to Israel, but not to the gentiles. Rightfully, the only things that pertain to the gentiles and the church age are the good news of the gospel of Christ and those things preached specifically to the gentiles. That is not to say that what was given to Israel does not tell of these times, which things are insightful. But those who come into that second fold of Christ, are not of the first fold. They are not chosen servants, but invited and grafted in, having no direction of how to walk in the flesh, but that they should not walk in the flesh, but walk only in the spirit.

This point of transition is something the church has not really embraced. Everything seems to be viewed only as a way of glorifying the flesh. But that is not the future - God is not flesh. He became flesh, but only as a sacrifice, that where He [now] is, we might be also. He laid it down, but the church has not. But our directions for these times were given with regard to the Spirit, not the flesh, and there is nothing mystic or gnostic about it. It's about God - whom is spirit.
 
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stunnedbygrace

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Well it sure sounds like a rant, since in your view just about everyone else is mistaken, and you have finally got a handle on the truth. Sounds like Guru Scott.

There is no doubt that Christ said that His words are Spirit and they are also Life. What did this mean? That without the indwelling Holy Spirit, Scripture would not make sense. The words of Christ address the spirit and can only be understood by the help of the Spirit. And without the New Birth by the Holy Spirit, no one could have eternal life, or see, or enter the Kingdom of God.

There is also no doubt that Jesus said repeatedly He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches or He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

What was the Lord saying? Was He not saying that "You who are hearing or reading these words -- are you ready, willing, and able to do what I am telling you to do? My words demand a response and action on your part?"

By the same token, Christians are urged to know that with the guidance and teaching of the Holy Spirit they will know "all things" as related to divine revelation and the teachings of Christ: But ye have an unction [anointing] from the Holy One, and ye know all things...But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:20,27)

Scripture is designed to foster spiritual growth and spiritual understanding. But it is not mysticism and Gnosticism. It is plain truth with great plainness of speech (as Paul said). He also quoted from the OT when he said: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Rom 10:8,9)

Also, in order to arrive at a proper understanding of what is stated in the English translation, Christians must be aware of the Hebrew and Greek words, which frequently have different meanings depending on context.
In a sense, it is all a parable. Just as Jesus told the disciples it was not for others to understand the parables but explained them further to them when they asked, the entire bible is like that. One can understand the letter but not the spirit of the word, unless the Spirit explains it to them.
 
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mjrhealth

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Well it sure sounds like a rant, since in your view just about everyone else is mistaken, and you have finally got a handle on the truth. Sounds like Guru Scott.
No HE speaks the truth and one of the few among this lot that does, you remember when Moses went up the mountain to hear from God, and all the Israelites waited down the bottom, and since He was slow to return, in there haste and impatients decided to build themselves a new God, a golden calf, Well you see christians today have that very same issue, some claim God cant talk to men so they effectively have denied God from ever speaking to them, others because of the lies in religion simply dont know He can, and so they too have a Golden Calf, to some its just the bible to others it is the Word of God whom they have made an Idol, that they have put between themselves and God, even "demanding" that God bow down and worship it as they do, and we know from God that Idols have no life,

What was it Jesus said

Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Joh 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

He isnt wrong.
 

Phoneman777

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Much of the New Testament was not meant for all people, but only for “He who has an ear” to hear “what the Spirit says to the churches.”

In other words, even that which is written was not to be heard or understood by everyone who reads it. But rather, that we have entered that time foretold of when God would pour out his spirit upon all flesh…and only those who hear what the Spirit says to the churches (His body) would get the message. So, that “He who has an ear” qualifier is not a “listen up” message to sharpen up our Hebrew and Greek language skills and our hermeneutical approach to the scriptures, it is a blatant statement indicating that the written words are not the message, but are spoke as Christ explained, saying, “My words are spirit.”

This whole deviation from the written word began with Christ and pertains to everything going forward. Oh, there are many practical matters covered in the non-spiritual text messages, just as in all the scriptures – but the real message going forward was only spiritual. Which is not just me saying so, but Christ who announced it.

So…has this been received and encouraged in the church? In a word – No, not even.

Instead, what we see is people pouring over the word giving highfalutin definitions, accounts of history and personal experience which are mostly moral in nature rather than spiritual. And then there are the institutional churches that have made every passage a religious practice and a ritual, a mockery of worldly significance pointing to more worldly things, rather than being the foreshadowing example that they were originally intended to be pointing to heavenly things. And my favorite: Thinking that every good word from God should be "applied" to your worldly life, as if that were the only purpose of God. All of which gives greater glory to the practice of what is written, than to the actual meaning behind it. This is all just people who cannot hear what the Spirit says…playing church, and worse…acting spiritual. To say nothing of the barking and falling down gobbly gook – it’s all quite innocent looking, even well intended, the stuff of “good Christians.”

And the lectures…OMG! The book-learned lawyers and Pharisees of our time are the worst – and they have no excuse. They have everything known to man at their fingertips and flaunt it…all propagated on dead works and literary nonsense.

But the point of this thread is not just to rant. It is to point out that there are those who have been entrusted and assigned to what it is that God is doing in our midst during the church age…and brilliantly, by design, there are also those who are not paddling forward, but are actually paddling backwards, while some are just splashing about. It’s brilliant! Things are moving forward, but many are held in a type of blindness to slow our progress until we reach the end of all generations. This is the result of God confounding all language at the tower of Babel. But those whom God has intended that do not know what they are talking about, who are deaf to what the Spirit is saying to those in the church who do hear, they are not the enemy – some are. But most are just the blind and deaf that have existed throughout every age, and yet are in their own way, servants nonetheless – just not to be believed. So, they can be Christian, followers of Christ, doing many good works…but “hearing what the Spirit says to the churches” is simply not their spiritual gift.

So, we don’t have to squabble with these good folk – but we should know that not everyone has equal access to spiritual truth – just “those who have an ear.” And we should know from the scriptures, yeah, from Christ, that this is His intended arrangement, and that we should not expect to vote and have an equal say as contemporary Christians just because we have a mind and a bible. Nor is it any different for the leaders in the church – that was never specified. The only qualification given, was “He who has and ear” and hears “what the Spirit says to the churches.” And thus, if you are one who has not been overcome by the Spirit - you don't have to go on knowingly or unknowingly paddling against the church (against the goads)...you would do better to just be still.

These are the real walking orders for the church age – which have been there in the scriptures all along: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
"He that hath an ear" is not a qualifying statement as you suggest - it is an impassioned plea from God to the whole of the world to "look and live", that all would look to Jesus as their Savior and Lord, that they might be saved.
 

ScottA

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"He that hath an ear" is not a qualifying statement as you suggest - it is an impassioned plea from God to the whole of the world to "look and live", that all would look to Jesus as their Savior and Lord, that they might be saved.
An impassioned plea, yes.

But the words speak for themselves. I have not added that they qualify the statement to be addressing the need to hear what the Spirit says - that is simply what it says. The very point is to hear the Spirit. That is my point also.

As for salvation, Jesus did not say "Hear the spirit" to be saved, He said, "believe."
 
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Phoneman777

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An impassioned plea, yes.

But the words speak for themselves. I have not added that they qualify the statement to be addressing the need to hear what the Spirit says - that is simply what it says. The very point is to hear the Spirit. That is my point also.

As for salvation, Jesus did not say "Hear the spirit" to be saved, He said, "believe."
It doesn't say "let he who has the spirit (a convert) hear what..." It says, "let he who hath ears", which is everyone. His plea is that everyone would seek and obtain the ability to hear what the Spirit is saying. I get what you're saying, but I disagree.

I'm not saying this applies to you, but this idea sounds like a religion of exclusivity, which says with a haughty look, "I know the path and you don't, ye profane...away with you." Calvinists love that exclusivity stuff, as do Luciferian secret societies that run the world, etc.
I absolutely hate it. Jesus said, "In secret I have said nothing."
 
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ScottA

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It doesn't say "let he who has the spirit (a convert) hear what..." It says, "let he who hath ears", which is everyone. His plea is that everyone would seek and obtain the ability to hear what the Spirit is saying. I get what you're saying, but I disagree.

I'm not saying this applies to you, but this idea sounds like a religion of exclusivity, which says with a haughty look, "I know the path and you don't, ye profane...away with you." Calvinists love that exclusivity stuff, as do Luciferian secret societies that run the world, etc.
I absolutely hate it. Jesus said, "In secret I have said nothing."
Oh, I see what you mean...but answering a matter of the Spirit with a physical explanation, does not address the problem. You could also say that everyone with a heartbeat is alive - which holds no spiritual truth, and neither does everyone with ears "hear what the Spirit says."

But, on the contrary, there is no "religious exclusivity" among a body of many [different] members and gifts. That's communism. Nonetheless, if an ear says to an eye, "I hear what you do not."...why is that a problem? Is it really a problem? Because, envy...is a sin.

But don't get me wrong. I am not trying to justify my own position. But rather, to do my part in a body and a world that seems either to shun the Spirit, or make it into some feel-good nonsense which it is not.
 
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Enoch111

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In a sense, it is all a parable.
That is certainly not supported by Scripture. There are parables, which are earthly stories with spiritual and heavenly meanings, and then there are the plain words of God and Christ. Let's not make a mishmash out of God's revelations.

"Everything is a parable" sounds like the Buddhist idea that everything is an illusion. That is unbiblical nonsense, and would actually undermine the Gospel.

As already mentioned by myself, it is the Holy Spirit who teaches Christians spiritual things. At the same time the Gospel is very plain and clear and that is why God commands all men everywhere to repent.

Scripture is NOT mystical mumbo jumbo, and we are not to constantly attack the written Word as though the plain words of Scripture are to be despised by those with some esoteric knowledge above and beyond what is revealed.

There is a lot of mysticism and Gnosticism entering into Christendom at this time, so we need to be careful that we do not exceed the meaning of some things, such as parables.
 
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brakelite

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Was it Tyndale or Wycliffe who informed the local religious superintendent that he could make the local plough boy to understand scripture better than anyone with a doctorate in philosophy or theology? (My transliteration). Anyway, that is true in that no-one needs to be super spiritual or have any advanced knowledge or education to adequately understand what God is telling him through the scriptures. The scriptures interpret themselves. They are the final authority in all matters of religious practice and belief. If not, then emotion and feelings become the authority, and any fanciful interpretation can be given any portion of scripture to suit any individual on the planet.
None need to go to college, gain a degree, earn letters to add to their name, in order to understand sufficiently all that pertains to life and godliness. All they need is Christ within, the hope of glory.
 

Windmillcharge

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@Windmillcharge

Your quote and comment are messed up so I couldn't reply with the quote feature...but you asked:

"'where?'[/QUOTEfrom Christ, that this is His intended arrangement 'where?'

...Except your question doesn't make sense because, not only did I quote the scripture of Christ announcing (which He did several times) that "he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches", but so did you quote it.

Was there another question?

As for your other comments...yes, God has used the bible/the written word, but that is just one thing, and the gifts of the spirit are many. But also, He did not say, "I will send you a Bible to lead you into all truth", but rather the [Holy] Spirit of Truth.
Who will bring to remembrance all I have taught you.
And what did they do but teach and put it into writing.

History records how often the written bible has been central to revivals, how where there has not been bibles false teaching has quickle come in.

As has false teaching by those with a bible but not willing to check there 'message' against it.
 

ScottA

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Who will bring to remembrance all I have taught you.
And what did they do but teach and put it into writing.

History records how often the written bible has been central to revivals, how where there has not been bibles false teaching has quickle come in.

As has false teaching by those with a bible but not willing to check there 'message' against it.
Nonetheless, if His words are spirit (as He said), then it is not the words that take precedence, but the spirit of God. This was at the heart of everything Jesus taught.

Matthew 23:19
"Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?"
 
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