“He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.” (Deu 8:3 NASB)
Journal,
The ancients said that when two or more men were studying the Scriptures, they were never to be disturbed. The reason was because the Shekinah was present in their study.
The Skekinah had various meanings, depending on how this word evolved over time. But it comes from a word which means ‘to dwell.’ It spoke of God’s presence. 
The Shekinah was often identified with the Holy Spirit, or with the Messiah, or with what the ancients called ‘haKovod’.
The haKovod was God’s manifested glory. For example when Moses went into the Holiest of Holies, there above the mercy seat was a Light. This light was called haKabod. (Or Kavod.)
In Paul’s letter to the Galatian Churches, he speaks of the Holy Spirit as “the Spirit of [God’s] Son.” (Gal4:6) The terms Spirit of the Son, voice of the Holy Spirit, and the anointing that abides in us, are all valid expressions of God’s life in believers. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)
On Pentecost 33 ad, the Holy Spirit, who is also called the Spirit of Christ, took of residence in His new home the Church. The apostle speaks of this when he said that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
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Background for the Bible speaks.
This is the background for the idea of how the Bible is made the textbook of the Holy Spirit. Reaching back to the creation of Adam, you recall that God breathed into Adam the breath of life. In the fall, Adam’s spirit life became corrupted.
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We see a prophetic reenactment of this when Jesus appears to the disciples. It says, “He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.'” (John 20:22)
What does this have to do with the Bible being the textbook of the Holy Spirit. What Paul tells us is that the sacred Scriptures were ‘breathed‘ out of the mouth of God. This is what the Greek word translated as ‘inspiration’ or ‘inspired’ actually means.
2 Timothy 3:16, says,
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reroof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
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The word “inspired” is ‘theopneustos,’ which literally means ‘God breathed.’ Paul’s point is that the Scriptures are God’s speaking directly to us. Theos is God. Pneustos comes from pneumaticos, which translates as ‘spiritual.’ Pneumaticos carries the idea of invisibility and power. Paul is telling Timothy that the Scriptures are God’s ‘powerful’ speaking place for His people.x
Thus the Bible is God’s training manual where the Holy Spirit trains believers to a life of righteousness, that is, a life that is God pleasing and God serving.
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Did not David say much the same.
“The Law [Torah means God’s instructions] of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” He adds, “Moreover by them Your servant is warned.” (Cf. Psalm 19:7-12)
Both Paul and David are speaking of the same body of Scriptures. The only Bible the early Church had was the writings of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms.
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It goes without question.
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And so, it goes without question that the Scriptures are God’s primary speaking place to believers. The Bible carries its own testimony. The prophet said, “To the law and the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.” (Isa8:20 – The word ‘dawn’ is a Hebraism that speaks of the path of righteousness.]
God’s Book is His feeding place for His children. He spreads us a wonderful table, and invites us to join Him.
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Recall what the two disciples said when Jesus was speaking to them after the resurrection, that is, when he did not allow them to recognize Him? They said, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32)
Is there Scripture for such a thought? Yes. God spoke through the prophet, and said, “On that day the deaf will hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.” (Isa29:18)
Paul explains it somewhat like this – In the new covenant as we look at the text book through the eyes
of the Spirit, it reflects the glory of God in Christ upon our minds and souls. The more of this reflected glory we see, the more our lives transform into the likeness of the One we are looking at. This is what makes up the continual transformation life that causes us to be more like Jesus as we travel life’s highway.
of the Spirit, it reflects the glory of God in Christ upon our minds and souls. The more of this reflected glory we see, the more our lives transform into the likeness of the One we are looking at. This is what makes up the continual transformation life that causes us to be more like Jesus as we travel life’s highway.Paul goes on to say that the Book remains a closed book to the unbelieving Jew, but to those, both Jews and Gentiles, who believe, the Book becomes a living oracle. He says, “To this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their [nonbelieving Jew or Gentile] heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2Co3:15,16)
As I mentioned earlier, Jesus also gives insight into this area. He said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one can snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27,28)
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God’s sheep will not follow strangers
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Jesus said that His sheep simply will not follow a strange (stranger’s) voice. When dealing with the demonic, it is important to keep these truths in mind. There are a lot of strange voices filling the earth today.
This opens up an area that a some don’t like to talk about. Too often we assume that someone is born again just because they seem to be knowledgeable. This person may not be saved at all. (People often confuse knowledge with new life.) This is why it is crucial to know the identifying signs of new covenant salvation. It is too easy to follow a ‘masquerading‘ spirit.
One of the greatest sign that a person born again will always be the inner peace that comes from having been to the cross. This ‘peace’ is a heavenly testimony that cannot be duplicated. It is only available to those who have accepted the Lamb’s salvation. Old timers called this ‘divine assurance.’ Like the song says, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. O what a foretaste of heaven divine.”
What about people who get high on ‘revelations.’ Some ‘revelations’ can be deceiving spirits at work. This is most surely the case when our revelations cause us to get puffed up, where we are right and everyone else is wrong, or where there is a clear break with the Scriptures themselves. The prophet said that this is a sign that a person’s soul is not right within them.
What is ‘the‘ revelation that we are to believe. It is the truth of the textbook, that Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures; that He is now the judge of the living and the dead.x
When we accept this Calvary truth and receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are transferred out of the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. The textbook has come alive. We have received its message. It is a living oracle from that moment on. (Cf. 1Co15:3,4; Acts 10:42; Col1:12-14.)
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The outflow of living water (God’s aliveness).
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Jesus describes a person who has been to the cross. He said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke of the Spirit…” (John 7:37-39)
Notice Jesus said, “As the Scripture said.” There is a dual meaning here. It means the Scriptures have delivered their message to the heart of the one who believes in Jesus. From this comes the overflowing life. Living water is a Hebraic symbol for the Word (Voice) of God.
The Lord is describing a person who has been to the cross and now has within their being a life power that can only come from God. This person has ‘found the answer’ and is not looking here and yon for satisfaction. (To grow in wisdom and knowledge is far removed from chasing revelations.)
Peter calls this innermost being, ‘the hidden person of the heart.’ Paul refers to this as the ‘Abba! Father!’ experience. It is also called the ‘sealed‘ life. (The Holy Spirit seals the true believer in Christ (Messiah) and then in turn occupies permanently the heart of the person who is sealed.)
Paul went on to explain that this great enlargement of our spiritual life, consists of God’s Light and Wisdom. He said, “But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory.” And, “For to us God revealed them through the Spirit…” (1 Co2) Paul’s point is that this wisdom is found in the Scriptures.
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The hidden life.
There is a hidden wisdom, a hidden life, and a hidden Light that belongs only to the community of the faith. In my understanding this was what David was speaking of when he said, “In Your light we see light.”
As a final note on the textbook of the Holy Spirit, let me share a Hebraism that is easy to miss in our casual reading of the Scriptures. Paul said, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2Co3:18)
The mirror imagery is Hebraism for God’s sacred writings. Remember the laver of water in the tabernacle plan? The bottom was covered with mirrors. This translated to the sages as the mirror of God’s Word. Also note the ‘water’ element of the laver. Water speaks of the outflow or stirrings of God’s Word in our life. (There is more to be said on this, but we can leave it for now.)
So it is true that the Bible we hold in our hands contains the living voice of Jesus. It is sometimes compared to the garden of God. Have you walked in the garden lately?
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OK, here goes. Take time to listen to, ‘On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand.’
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Oh yes, before I forget. God would like a Word with you.
Your friend in Christ,
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Buddy
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