A PERSONAL CONVICTION OF GOD'S WORD

1 Kings 13:15-22  So the prophet said to him, "Come home with me and eat."  (16)  The man of God said, "I cannot turn back and go with you, nor can I eat bread or drink water with you in this place.  (17)  I have been told by the word of the LORD: 'You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.' "  (18)  The old prophet answered, "I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the LORD: 'Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.' " (But he was lying to him.)  (19)  So the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house.  (20)  While they were sitting at the table, the word of the LORD came to the old prophet who had brought him back.  (21)  He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, "This is what the LORD says: 'You have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you.  (22)  You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your fathers.' "

The prophet in this story had a clear word from the Lord:

(17)  I have been told by the word of the LORD: 'You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.' "

But somehow he was led astray by an old prophet’s desire to feed him.

(18)  The old prophet answered, "I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the LORD: 'Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.' " (But he was lying to him.)

The old prophet’s motive was good – all he wanted was to bless the other prophet, to feed him, take care of him.  But it seems he was acting out of emotion.

The real story is with the first prophet.  He had a clear word from the Lord not to eat bread or drink water, or return by the way he came.  And yet, when offered to eat by a fellow prophet, he disobeyed God’s word.  He should have listened to the word of the Lord in his heart, rather than to a fellow prophet.

How important is it for us to have a personal conviction of God’s word in our hearts?  Without this personal conviction, it is possible, just like the prophet, for us to be swayed from the truth of God’s Word through another persons prodding, no matter how pure his motives may be.

Who is it that brings this understanding and conviction to our hearts?  Is it a pastor, or another Christian?  It should be the Holy Spirit Himself teaching us.

John 14:25-26  All this I have spoken while still with you.  (26)  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 16:12-14  I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.  (13)  But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  (14)  He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.

A true believer in Christ is indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  Not only is He a seal, assuring us of our eternity, and a source of power and strength that we may live as witnesses of Christ, but He is also there to teach us, to reveal God’s truth to us.

1Co 2:9-10  However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" --

10  but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

Think of that gracious privilege we have, brethren, of being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and having God Himself teach us, remind us, and reveal to us the truth of Scripture!  And the Holy Spirit speaks to us in many ways – our personal prayer and study of God’s Word, the preaching every Sunday, fellowship with other believers, reading books or watching videos of other pastors and teachers.  But the very foundation of learning is found in our personal desire to seek Him, His truth, and it’s application in our hearts, knowing that it is the Holy Spirit who is teaching us, revealing His truth in us.

This personal seeking of God’s truth, through the working of the Holy Spirit, becomes the basis of our conviction.

 

There are some Christians today base their convictions SOLELY on the preaching or teaching of their pastor, elders, or even other believers, without personally praying and studying God’s Word, asking the Holy Spirit to teach them.  Whatever the teaching is of their local church on a certain issue, they stand on it, without personally seeking God and studying His Word.

Today the source of truth and conviction is extended to social media.  Whatever a pastor or preacher says on YouTube, or whatever quote is posted in facebook or twitter, that is what we believe – without prayerfully seeking God in His word personally.  The conviction in our hearts of God’s will must come through the working of the Holy Spirit teaching us not just through other people alone – it must be together with our personal study also.

We may listen to God’s word in a preaching or teaching, but we must have hearts that read, meditate and study His Word, dependent on the Holy Spirit for understanding and wisdom.  This is why while listening to a pastor preach God’s Word it is important for us to be reading God’s word at the same time, and not just totally dependent on what a pastor is saying.  It is important for us to have the Holy Spirit Himself illuminating God’s Word as we read it.

We can be discussing Bible truths and teachings with other believers, which is good, but our conviction must come a heart dependent on the Holy Spirit, in prayerful meditation and study of God’s Word as we study it together.

This is why a personal desire to grow in God and His Word, expressed through our time of reading, meditating and study of God’s Word, fully dependent on the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s truth and will, is of utmost importance.  This is not an option.  God wants each one of us personally, prayerfully, seeking God’s truth and application in our life, together with other avenues that God uses within the church.

Yes, we need the preaching of God’s Word every Sunday from a pastor of a local church that we have committed to.  Yes, we need fellowship with other believers, faithfully studying and discussing God’s Word.  And yes, it is also important for us to be listening to sound teachings of other pastors, Christian writers.  But we understand that the Holy Spirit is using all these avenues in the church, coupled with our own personal desire to grow in God’s Word, to bring a conviction of God’s will and truth in our hearts.

Let’s not be “social media Christians” (my personal term) who depend ONLY on beautifully designed quotes of Scripture, or video clips of famous pastors (dead or alive), for their personal stand.  Let’s have a heart that personally seeks the conviction of the Holy Spirit teaching us His Word, that we may have a personal conviction concerning His truths, even as He uses pastors, authors and other believers to teach us.

Colossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.