WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.839 In what different ways has God revealed himself 00:00:02.839 --> 00:00:06.099 and how do those ways fit together instead of 00:00:06.099 --> 00:00:08.960 competing, leading us finally to the written 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:12.119 word of God? That's what this whole chapter is 00:00:12.119 --> 00:00:16.219 about. Has God really stepped into history so 00:00:16.219 --> 00:00:20.500 people could see and experience him? So let me 00:00:20.500 --> 00:00:24.260 start here. Has God ever made himself known in 00:00:24.260 --> 00:00:27.910 ways people could actually see? Has he ever stepped 00:00:27.910 --> 00:00:31.210 into real time and space? The Bible's answer 00:00:31.210 --> 00:00:34.450 is yes. Sometimes God shows himself in a visible, 00:00:34.490 --> 00:00:37.049 special way. We often call these appearances 00:00:37.049 --> 00:00:40.890 theophanies. Think, for example, of Moses. God 00:00:40.890 --> 00:00:43.530 appears to him in a burning bush. The bush is 00:00:43.530 --> 00:00:46.590 on fire, but not burning up. And God calls Moses 00:00:46.590 --> 00:00:50.920 by name. Exodus chapter 3, verse 1 to 6. Later, 00:00:50.939 --> 00:00:53.640 God comes down on Mount Sinai with thunder, lightning, 00:00:53.859 --> 00:00:56.520 thick cloud, and a loud trumpet sound so that 00:00:56.520 --> 00:00:59.460 the whole mountain shakes, Exodus chapter 19. 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:02.740 Those are not just symbolic stories. They are 00:01:02.740 --> 00:01:06.560 God saying, I am really here and I am speaking 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:10.739 to you. God also reveals himself through miracles, 00:01:10.819 --> 00:01:14.959 special actions that break into the normal flow 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:19.489 of nature to make a point. Think of what he does 00:01:19.489 --> 00:01:23.609 in the Exodus. He parts the Red Sea so Israel 00:01:23.609 --> 00:01:27.170 can walk through on dry ground, Exodus chapter 00:01:27.170 --> 00:01:32.030 14. He sends manna from heaven to feed his people 00:01:32.030 --> 00:01:36.129 in the wilderness, Exodus chapter 16. Then think 00:01:36.129 --> 00:01:38.810 of Jesus. He heals the sick, gives sight to the 00:01:38.810 --> 00:01:41.629 blind, and makes the lame walk. He casts out 00:01:41.629 --> 00:01:44.209 demons and shows authority over evil spirits. 00:01:44.370 --> 00:01:48.140 He calms a storm with a word. He raises the dead 00:01:48.140 --> 00:01:51.939 like Lazarus in John chapter 11 verse 43 to 44. 00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:54.920 These are not magic tricks to impress a crowd. 00:01:55.180 --> 00:01:58.420 They are signs. They point to who God is, his 00:01:58.420 --> 00:02:01.620 power, his compassion, his authority, and to 00:02:01.620 --> 00:02:04.980 what he is doing to save. So one way God reveals 00:02:04.980 --> 00:02:07.739 himself is by appearing and acting in history. 00:02:07.939 --> 00:02:10.800 He does real things in the real world to show 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:13.319 that he is not distant but present and involved. 00:02:14.039 --> 00:02:17.419 Does God only work outside of us, or does he 00:02:17.419 --> 00:02:20.879 also speak inside our minds and hearts? Then 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:24.199 you might ask, alright, God acts in the world, 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:28.219 but does he ever speak directly to people inwardly? 00:02:28.699 --> 00:02:32.539 Again, scripture says yes. God has spoken through 00:02:32.539 --> 00:02:35.680 dreams and visions, not as vague feelings, but 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:38.979 as clear messages he chose to give. Let me give 00:02:38.979 --> 00:02:41.900 you a few examples. In Numbers chapter 12 verse 00:02:41.900 --> 00:02:44.860 6, God says that when he has a prophet, he makes 00:02:44.860 --> 00:02:47.560 himself known in a vision and speaks in a dream. 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:50.620 Joseph receives dreams that reveal what will 00:02:50.620 --> 00:02:53.800 happen and how God will use him. Genesis chapter 00:02:53.800 --> 00:02:58.780 37 and also chapters 40 and 41. Isaiah sees the 00:02:58.780 --> 00:03:01.979 Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, in 00:03:01.979 --> 00:03:05.719 the temple, Isaiah chapter 6. Ezekiel sees visions 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:08.800 of God's glory and the heavenly throne, Ezekiel 00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:11.879 chapter 1. But here is the key. These experiences 00:03:11.879 --> 00:03:15.080 always come with words. The prophets don't just 00:03:15.080 --> 00:03:18.020 say, I had a strong feeling. They say things 00:03:18.020 --> 00:03:21.280 like, the word of the Lord came to me, and this 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:24.689 is what the Lord says. God tells Jeremiah, I 00:03:24.689 --> 00:03:27.750 have put my words in your mouth. Jeremiah chapter 00:03:27.750 --> 00:03:31.469 1 verse 9. Amos chapter 3 verse 7 says, The Lord 00:03:31.469 --> 00:03:33.770 reveals his plans to his servants, the prophets. 00:03:34.169 --> 00:03:37.009 So this inward speaking has a clear pattern. 00:03:37.330 --> 00:03:41.009 God chooses a person. God gives a message sometimes 00:03:41.009 --> 00:03:44.090 through dreams, visions, or direct inner speech. 00:03:44.469 --> 00:03:47.349 That person must then speak that message faithfully 00:03:47.349 --> 00:03:50.009 to others. It is God's initiative, not human 00:03:50.009 --> 00:03:52.699 technique. The prophet is not trying to access 00:03:52.699 --> 00:03:55.919 the spiritual realm. God is graciously breaking 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:59.439 in with his own word. So a second way God reveals 00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:03.139 himself is by speaking inwardly through dreams, 00:04:03.300 --> 00:04:07.180 visions, and prophetic words that carry his objective 00:04:07.180 --> 00:04:10.860 verbal message. If God was already acting and 00:04:10.860 --> 00:04:13.240 speaking, why did he add writing on top of that? 00:04:13.800 --> 00:04:16.220 Now let me raise another question I know you 00:04:16.220 --> 00:04:19.420 might be thinking. If God already reveals himself 00:04:19.420 --> 00:04:22.779 by acting in history and speaking through prophets, 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:25.800 why did he bother to have anything written down? 00:04:25.899 --> 00:04:29.180 That's a crucial piece of the puzzle. God chose 00:04:29.180 --> 00:04:32.040 to have his words inscripturated, written down, 00:04:32.180 --> 00:04:35.379 so that his revelation would be preserved and 00:04:35.379 --> 00:04:38.360 his revelation would be clarified for every generation. 00:04:38.819 --> 00:04:41.600 We see this pattern throughout the Bible. In 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:45.240 Deuteronomy chapter 31 verse 24 to 26, Moses 00:04:45.240 --> 00:04:48.199 finishes writing the words of the law in a book 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:51.319 and says it should be placed beside the Ark of 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:54.600 the Covenant as a witness for Israel. In Isaiah 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:57.420 chapter 30 verse 8, God says write it before 00:04:57.420 --> 00:05:00.720 them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book that 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:03.540 it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. 00:05:04.019 --> 00:05:07.980 Jeremiah dictates God's words to Baruch who writes 00:05:07.980 --> 00:05:12.560 them on a scroll. Jeremiah chapter 36. The Psalms 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:16.079 are written prayers and songs that become a permanent 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:19.579 part of Israel's worship and teaching. In the 00:05:19.579 --> 00:05:22.240 New Testament, the same thing continues. The 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:25.199 Gospels are written accounts of Jesus' life and 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:27.579 teaching. Letters are written to churches to 00:05:27.579 --> 00:05:30.319 explain and apply the truth of Christ's work. 00:05:31.149 --> 00:05:33.870 These writings are received as authoritative 00:05:33.870 --> 00:05:36.990 because they come from the apostles and their 00:05:36.990 --> 00:05:40.290 close associates, Christ's chosen witnesses. 00:05:40.769 --> 00:05:44.269 Writing does several vital things. Spoken words 00:05:44.269 --> 00:05:47.910 fade. Written words can be returned to and checked. 00:05:48.209 --> 00:05:50.870 Writing guards against the distortions of memory 00:05:50.870 --> 00:05:54.089 and emotion. A written text stands outside of 00:05:54.089 --> 00:05:57.329 us. It confronts us even when we don't like what 00:05:57.329 --> 00:06:00.449 it says. So a third way God reveals himself is 00:06:00.449 --> 00:06:03.230 by speaking in writing. Scripture is not just 00:06:03.230 --> 00:06:05.610 people journaling their spiritual thoughts. It 00:06:05.610 --> 00:06:08.589 is God making sure his message is fixed, public, 00:06:08.689 --> 00:06:12.050 and available to his people across time. But 00:06:12.050 --> 00:06:14.250 do these different ways of speaking compete, 00:06:14.410 --> 00:06:17.850 or do they fit into one plan? Now we need to 00:06:17.850 --> 00:06:20.740 pull this together. You might say, All right, 00:06:20.860 --> 00:06:23.459 we have appearances and miracles, inner words 00:06:23.459 --> 00:06:26.199 and written words. Are these competing channels 00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:30.240 or do they fit into one pattern? They fit together 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:32.759 in one pattern. You can think of it like this. 00:06:33.079 --> 00:06:36.480 God's acts create the events. God's spoken word 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:39.300 explains the meaning of those events. God's written 00:06:39.300 --> 00:06:42.180 word preserves that explanation for all generations. 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:45.800 Let's walk through two big examples. First, the 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:50.149 Exodus. Act. God does miracles. He sends plagues, 00:06:50.170 --> 00:06:53.350 parts the Red Sea, and brings Israel out of slavery. 00:06:53.750 --> 00:06:58.129 Exodus chapter 7 to 14. Spoken word. At Mount 00:06:58.129 --> 00:07:01.569 Sinai he speaks, I am the Lord your God who brought 00:07:01.569 --> 00:07:04.110 you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 00:07:04.629 --> 00:07:08.050 Exodus chapter 20 verse 2. Then he gives the 00:07:08.050 --> 00:07:10.709 Ten Commandments. He ties his commands to his 00:07:10.709 --> 00:07:14.670 saving act. Writing. Moses writes down all the 00:07:14.670 --> 00:07:17.920 Lord's words and laws. Exodus chapter 24 verse 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:21.660 4. The covenant is put into written form. Second, 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:24.500 the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Act. 00:07:24.579 --> 00:07:27.939 The Son of God is born in Bethlehem, lives a 00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:31.379 sinless life, dies on the cross, and rises from 00:07:31.379 --> 00:07:35.199 the dead. These are real events in history. Spoken 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:38.199 word. Jesus teaches about the kingdom of God, 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:41.180 about his mission, and about what his death will 00:07:41.180 --> 00:07:44.480 accomplish. After his resurrection, he explains 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:46.740 to his disciples how the scriptures speak of 00:07:46.740 --> 00:07:50.220 him. The apostles then preach openly, explaining 00:07:50.220 --> 00:07:53.040 the meaning of his cross and resurrection, for 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:56.379 example, in Peter's sermon in Acts chapter 2 00:07:56.379 --> 00:08:00.000 or Paul's teaching in Romans chapter 3, verse 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:04.160 21 to 26, writing, the gospels and the letters 00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:06.920 are written down, giving us a spirit -guided 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:10.100 record and interpretation of Christ's work. So 00:08:10.100 --> 00:08:12.620 the different modes are not three separate tracks. 00:08:12.939 --> 00:08:16.519 They are a sequence in one redemptive plan. Act, 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:18.579 spoken interpretation, written preservation. 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:21.899 All of this moves toward a stable, shared, written 00:08:21.899 --> 00:08:24.939 word through which Christ is proclaimed to every 00:08:24.939 --> 00:08:28.120 generation. Doesn't the variety of modes support 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:30.899 the idea of ongoing revelation through the church? 00:08:31.259 --> 00:08:33.899 Now, like Paul, let me raise some objections 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:36.179 that others might throw at us and respond to 00:08:36.179 --> 00:08:39.049 them. Here's the first one. If God used many 00:08:39.049 --> 00:08:41.629 modes, acts, visions, prophetic words, writing, 00:08:41.789 --> 00:08:45.429 doesn't that support the idea that he continues 00:08:45.429 --> 00:08:48.629 to reveal himself authoritatively through the 00:08:48.629 --> 00:08:52.029 church's tradition, councils, and official decisions 00:08:52.029 --> 00:08:55.809 beyond scripture? This is a Roman Catholic or 00:08:55.809 --> 00:08:58.690 Eastern Orthodox style concern. How would I answer? 00:08:59.049 --> 00:09:02.529 First, I would agree that God has indeed worked 00:09:02.529 --> 00:09:05.690 in the life of the church. He has used councils, 00:09:05.929 --> 00:09:09.610 teachers, and creeds to guard and clarify the 00:09:09.610 --> 00:09:12.309 truth. But second, I would point out that scripture 00:09:12.309 --> 00:09:15.809 says the many modes in earlier times have converged 00:09:15.809 --> 00:09:18.590 in Christ and the apostolic witness in a foundational 00:09:18.590 --> 00:09:22.210 way. Hebrews chapter 1 verse 1 and 2 says that 00:09:22.210 --> 00:09:25.230 in the past God spoke at many times and in various 00:09:25.230 --> 00:09:29.009 ways but in these last days he has spoken by 00:09:29.009 --> 00:09:32.730 his son. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 20 says the 00:09:32.730 --> 00:09:35.929 church is built on the foundation of the apostles 00:09:35.929 --> 00:09:38.769 and prophets with Christ as the cornerstone. 00:09:39.009 --> 00:09:42.590 That language in these last days foundation suggests 00:09:42.590 --> 00:09:45.929 a climax not an open -ended process. Third we 00:09:45.929 --> 00:09:49.789 see that the written word is treated as the final 00:09:49.789 --> 00:09:53.309 standard. Jesus critiques traditions that set 00:09:53.309 --> 00:09:56.389 aside God's command. In Mark chapter 7 verse 00:09:56.389 --> 00:10:00.529 6 to 13, he says, you nullify the word of God 00:10:00.529 --> 00:10:04.490 by your tradition. In Acts chapter 17 verse 11, 00:10:04.750 --> 00:10:07.830 the Bereans are praised because they test even 00:10:07.830 --> 00:10:10.990 the apostle Paul's teaching by examining the 00:10:10.990 --> 00:10:14.179 scriptures. Historically, early councils saw 00:10:14.179 --> 00:10:17.320 themselves as servants of the given revelation. 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:21.080 They argued from scripture to defend doctrine. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:24.639 Their authority relied on their faithfulness 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:28.600 to the already given word, not on adding new 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:31.840 revelation. So here is the presuppositional issue. 00:10:32.059 --> 00:10:35.059 If later institutional decisions are treated 00:10:35.059 --> 00:10:38.340 as new revelation equal to scripture, then scripture 00:10:38.340 --> 00:10:41.559 is no longer the supreme court of appeal. the 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:44.899 earlier written word becomes just one piece in 00:10:44.899 --> 00:10:47.700 a larger system instead of the final standard 00:10:47.700 --> 00:10:50.659 for that system that conflicts with the claim 00:10:50.659 --> 00:10:52.919 that god brought his many modes of revelation 00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:57.440 to a stable sufficient written form If God used 00:10:57.440 --> 00:10:59.899 prophets, dreams, and visions before, why can't 00:10:59.899 --> 00:11:01.820 he keep giving new prophets and new scriptures 00:11:01.820 --> 00:11:05.059 now? A second objection sounds like this. If 00:11:05.059 --> 00:11:07.919 God once used dreams, visions, and prophets, 00:11:08.340 --> 00:11:11.500 why say he doesn't still give new prophets and 00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:14.440 new books of scripture today? This is the kind 00:11:14.440 --> 00:11:16.779 of question you might hear from a Mormon friend. 00:11:17.100 --> 00:11:20.179 Here's how I'd respond. I fully agree that God 00:11:20.179 --> 00:11:23.120 is free. We are not putting him in a box. But 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:26.279 we must take seriously what he says about the 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:30.039 climax and completion of his revelation. Hebrews 00:11:30.039 --> 00:11:32.679 chapter 1 verse 1 and 2 says that in these last 00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:36.320 days he has spoken by his son. Jude verse 3 tells 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:39.779 us to contend for the faith that was once for 00:11:39.779 --> 00:11:42.559 all delivered to the saints. Ephesians chapter 00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:45.799 2 verse 20 says the church is built on the foundation 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:49.279 of the apostles and prophets. The pattern is 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:52.460 many modes leading up to Christ, then Christ 00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:55.700 and his apostles as the foundation, then a written 00:11:55.700 --> 00:11:59.399 apostolic testimony that defines the faith. Historically, 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:02.639 the early church recognized a closed canon tied 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:06.720 to the apostolic era. The key question was, does 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:10.460 this writing belong to that circle of apostolic 00:12:10.460 --> 00:12:14.059 witness? Once that was settled, the church did 00:12:14.059 --> 00:12:17.370 not look for new equally authoritative books 00:12:17.370 --> 00:12:21.350 in later centuries. If new revelations can correct 00:12:21.350 --> 00:12:25.330 or override what scripture says, then no revelation 00:12:25.330 --> 00:12:29.370 is ever final. The story keeps being rewritten. 00:12:29.490 --> 00:12:32.649 That conflicts with the claim that God has clearly 00:12:32.649 --> 00:12:36.090 and sufficiently revealed his saving plan in 00:12:36.090 --> 00:12:39.250 Christ and has given a complete trustworthy record 00:12:39.250 --> 00:12:41.990 of that revelation in scripture. Aren't icons, 00:12:42.269 --> 00:12:45.029 liturgy, and spiritual experience also real modes 00:12:45.029 --> 00:12:47.529 of revelation? A third objection might sound 00:12:47.529 --> 00:12:50.990 like this. We believe God reveals himself through 00:12:50.990 --> 00:12:54.990 icons, liturgy, and spiritual experience, not 00:12:54.990 --> 00:12:58.509 only through texts. Why should scripture be treated 00:12:58.509 --> 00:13:02.409 as uniquely normative among all these modes? 00:13:02.909 --> 00:13:05.870 This is more of an Eastern Orthodox -style concern. 00:13:06.149 --> 00:13:09.370 Here's how I would answer. I want to gladly affirm 00:13:09.370 --> 00:13:12.490 that God can use visual art, worship, music, 00:13:12.649 --> 00:13:15.370 and spiritual experience to teach and remind 00:13:15.370 --> 00:13:18.730 us of his truth. But is it equal to God -breathed 00:13:18.730 --> 00:13:22.350 word? But we must distinguish between means of 00:13:22.350 --> 00:13:25.590 instruction, things that help us grasp and remember 00:13:25.590 --> 00:13:29.850 what God has already revealed, and sources of 00:13:29.850 --> 00:13:32.789 revelation, things that by God's authority tell 00:13:32.789 --> 00:13:36.220 us what is true. Scripture uses unique language 00:13:36.220 --> 00:13:39.519 for the prophetic and apostolic writings. It 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:42.639 calls them God -breathed and says they thoroughly 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:47.460 equip us for every good work, 2 Timothy 3, verse 00:13:47.460 --> 00:13:53.600 16 -17. 2 Peter 1, verse 19 -21 speaks of the 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:56.860 prophetic word as a sure light. Historically, 00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:00.279 icons and liturgy developed as ways of expressing 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:04.179 and teaching doctrines already believed. At least 00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:07.100 in principle, their legitimacy was judged by 00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:09.620 how faithfully they reflected biblical truth. 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:13.460 If icons, liturgical forms, or certain mystical 00:14:13.460 --> 00:14:16.139 experiences are treated as co -equal sources 00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:19.740 of revelation, they can bring in ideas not anchored 00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:22.700 in scripture. Then the center of authority shifts 00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:26.299 from the written word to a blend of text, image, 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:29.700 and practice. At that point, we can no longer 00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:32.759 say with clarity, this written word is the final 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:44.940 norm that tests every other mode. If God once 00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:47.700 spoke through dreams and visions, why say he 00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:50.740 doesn't do that authoritatively today? Aren't 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:53.779 we limiting God if we insist only scripture is 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:56.879 binding? Let me answer this carefully. I am not 00:14:56.879 --> 00:15:00.580 denying that God can guide his people today in 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:04.000 personal ways. Many believers can testify to 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:07.279 times when they sensed a strong inward prompting 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:10.779 to act or to refrain from acting, and later saw 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:14.299 God's wisdom in that. The key question is different. 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:17.379 Are these present -day impressions canon -level, 00:15:17.539 --> 00:15:20.460 church -binding revelation, or are they something 00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:23.279 else? The New Testament tells us the foundation 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:26.419 is already laid. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 20 00:15:26.419 --> 00:15:29.460 says the church is built on the foundation of 00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:32.519 the apostles and prophets. Jude verse 3 says 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:35.259 the faith has been delivered once for all. So 00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:38.440 we can say God may still give guidance, impressions 00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:41.919 or a sense of direction. But every such impression 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:44.799 coming from our heart, which is sinful, must 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:47.659 be tested by Scripture and must not be treated 00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:51.860 as adding to the Bible or correcting it. 1 Thessalonians 00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:57.000 5 20 -21 says, Do not despise prophecies, but 00:15:57.000 --> 00:16:00.840 test everything. Hold fast what is good. 1 John 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:05.480 4 1 tells us to test the spirits. The standard 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:08.740 for that testing is the written word. If we make 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:11.679 our inner sense of God's voice the final authority, 00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:15.500 then our standard becomes unstable and subjective. 00:16:16.179 --> 00:16:20.080 We end up with as many words from God as there 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:23.740 are feelings in the room. Scripture, by contrast, 00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:27.360 is objective and public. It gives the church 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:30.899 one shared foundation. So how should all of this 00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:33.159 shape the way we live and listen to God today? 00:16:33.299 --> 00:16:36.389 Let me finish with this question. What difference 00:16:36.389 --> 00:16:39.629 does all of this make in our everyday walk with 00:16:39.629 --> 00:16:42.570 God? First, treasure all that God has done and 00:16:42.570 --> 00:16:45.990 said, but cling to Scripture as your final standard. 00:16:46.210 --> 00:16:49.090 Give thanks for the burning bush, the parted 00:16:49.090 --> 00:16:51.889 sea, the visions of the prophets, the miracles 00:16:51.889 --> 00:16:55.509 of Jesus, and the ways God has guided you personally. 00:16:55.809 --> 00:16:58.970 But remember that all those modes were designed 00:16:58.970 --> 00:17:03.009 to lead to and be measured by the written word. 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:07.579 Let the Bible be the place where you expect God 00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:10.880 to speak clearly and authoritatively. When you 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:13.759 open scripture, you are not just reading ancient 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:16.400 religious literature. You are hearing the God 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:19.539 who acted in history and then interpreted his 00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:23.220 own actions. That word can correct you, comfort 00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:26.380 you, and equip you. Third, stay humble about 00:17:26.380 --> 00:17:29.009 your experiences and strong in the word. If you 00:17:29.009 --> 00:17:31.549 have a powerful spiritual experience, thank God, 00:17:31.670 --> 00:17:34.730 but test it by scripture. If someone claims to 00:17:34.730 --> 00:17:37.730 have a new message from God that changes or adds 00:17:37.730 --> 00:17:40.670 to the Bible, hold on tightly to the written 00:17:40.670 --> 00:17:45.069 word and be very cautious and reject it. Finally, 00:17:45.089 --> 00:17:47.410 take comfort in the character of the God who 00:17:47.410 --> 00:17:50.809 reveals himself this way. He is not silent. He 00:17:50.809 --> 00:17:54.369 is not hiding. He is a God who acts and speaks 00:17:54.369 --> 00:17:57.869 and who has brought his revelation to a clear, 00:17:58.329 --> 00:18:02.049 written form for your sake. That means your faith 00:18:02.049 --> 00:18:04.650 does not rest on shifting feelings or secret 00:18:04.650 --> 00:18:08.450 insights, but on the solid, public, unchanging 00:18:08.450 --> 00:18:10.170 word he has given.