We're pink. Is that better? There we go. Good morning. Morning. Good morning. Welcome. Well, I was going to thank the Lord for slacking the rain, but they said within the next 30 minutes or so, we're, we look like we might get a little bit more rain before the day's over. So, but, uh, obviously the Lord feels we need the rain. So we're going to get a little bit of rain. And, uh, but the weather forecast at least looks, looks pretty fairly clear this next week. So maybe we'll get a little bit of a break for two, three days from it. Uh, welcome. Well, let's, let's go to the Lord in prayer and we'll, we'll get started this morning. Father in heaven, father, thank you for the, for the privilege to be able to come together and to worship you in, in like harmony. And father, we thank you for everyone that's here this morning. Lord, we ask you to be with the ones that are not. for whatever reason, whether it's health or whether it's travel. We just ask you to be with them. Father, as we open your word this morning, we ask you to bless the discussion, the talking of it. We thank you for your word and for the truth of your word. Father, it's hard to imagine a world without it and just how cold and blind and dark it would be. So as we look into it this morning, Lord, we ask you to bless our time of study. May we be better soldiers for your kingdom as a result of having seen and talked and discussed your word this morning. We ask it all in Christ's name. Amen. Well, we're going to look at a subject that a lot of people a lot of times think might be somewhat confusing. And to the unregenerate world, it is confusing. It's very confusing. We're going to look at the Holy Spirit and the scriptures and how they fit together. We're in chapter 19, and I'm basically, it's going to be a short lesson today, but I'm basically going to try my best to stick right with what our author has going on. Cody, I don't think I had any more sheets, but I'll give you one. Oh, you got one? Okay. All right, anyway, the author starts out talking about the Bible being a spiritual book, and indeed, that's the case. He says it was, and we certainly believe that it was written by the Holy Spirit and can be interpreted only, and that's our first I-word, okay, in the lesson today. That's our first I-word. interpreted only through his illumination and direction. He says and also prayer is a very important factor in our ability to interpret the scripture. He makes a pretty bold statement that we probably need to understand before we even get into the end of the lesson is we simply cannot interpret the Bible correctly apart from prayer and the illumination of the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. Now what does illumination mean? Bring it to light. That's exactly right, John. Bring it to light. Light it up where you can see it. Not only see it, but since it's a spiritual book, understand it. Okay? Understand it. Now, he says before continuing the study that it's important to understand two key words or concepts that describe the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures. And he says these two are inspiration and illumination. And a lot of people think they're the same thing, and they're not, okay? Inspiration, he says, if you'll go along with the study, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is the supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit upon the writers of the scriptures that resulted in the completely infallible, underline those two words, completely infallible and trustworthy record of God's revelation. Folks, there's not any mistakes in God's Word. There's no mistakes. In the Old Testament, it even talks about it's perfect in its structure, even down to the jit and the tittle. You know what a jit and a tittle are? Well, in the Hebrew alphabet, those are the two smallest forms of punctuation. Okay, even smaller than our parentheses or exclamation points or anything like that. The jit and the tittle are the two smallest punctuation markers in the Hebrew alphabet. Okay, so the completely infallible and trustworthy record of God's revelation. That's the inspiration. That's where inspiration comes in, okay? The illumination is what comes about to us. That is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit upon the readers of the scripture through which he teaches the Christian who sincerely searches the truth and for the will of God in his word. So inspiration and illumination are two different. Now where's the first I word that we talked about? Interpretation. So the inspiration plus the illumination equals interpretation. And that's where we come in. Through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, God opens the scripture to the believer and teaches him his glorious truth. Now he put the next phrase in bold writing there because it needs to be in bold writing. It says, the writing of the Bible would have been impossible apart from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit So also is the interpretation of the Bible impossible apart from the illumination John was talking about. So these two ministries of the Spirit or functions of the Holy Spirit are absolutely essential. You've got to have them both. You've got to have them both. And it's necessary that we clearly understand the difference between the two. So his first point there says illumination is not inspiration. Inspiration of the Holy Spirit guaranteed the perfect transmission of the will of God through the writers, through essential to our understanding, the writers of the scriptures, I'm sorry, the illumination of the Holy Spirit, very essential as well to our understanding of God's word. But the illumination does not, Underline those two, not guarantee, does not guarantee that our interpretation will always be correct. Now, why do you suppose that is? Why do you, you would think if we're being illuminated by the Holy Spirit when we study God's word, why would our interpretation not always be correct? Pardon? We don't always respond. That's true. That's very true. And we're human. OK. We're not human. The Holy Spirit. I mean, we are human. The Holy Spirit was not human. OK. And the Holy Spirit's work is perfect. Our understanding is not always perfect. even though that we are illuminated by the Holy Spirit. There are other factors that can impede our understanding. We can come into our Bible study with a little pride in our hearts. That's going to cause us not to interpret quite properly. We can also show up to study God's Word with a hard heart about a certain thing. And that's going to keep us from completely understanding what the Holy Spirit is trying to teach us through the scriptures. We can also come into our study with a false conviction, where we're already convinced something else is right. A presumption, and that's what he talks about in the next, a distorted presumption. Some people may already have, depending on what culture they were brought up in, what religious background they were brought up in they can bring all kinds of presumptions to the study and be confused by it and not understand it or and not interpret it perfectly. Now the second one he talks about is when we're looking at the differences he says the Holy Spirit will never teach anything that is not conformed to the grammar of the word that he inspired. Well, let me tell you, a lot of people get off on this right here. They get off track right here. A lot of people. He says, even though a verse may have the same, may have many different applications for the Christian life, have you ever studied a text when something was going on in your life and it impressed upon you, the Holy Spirit impressed upon you as a result of that to do this or that or something like that? Well, The next time you study that, you may get a completely different sense of application in your life. And so that's what he's talking about there, the applications for the Christian life. It has, even though it can have many different applications to the Christian life, it only has one correct interpretation. and that which is according to the grammatical and contextual meaning. Now, let's don't get too confused with those two words. Let's see if I can think of any. Oh, yeah. Over in the Book of Luke, it talks about the person after they become a believer and concerning stealing. and sterling stealing. You remember the verse, let him that stole steal no more, rather let him labor with his hands that which is good. You've heard that? All it takes is one punctuation mark to completely reverse that meaning. You say, what are you talking about? All right, the Bible says, let him that stole steal no more, rather let him labor with his hands that which is good. If you add a comma to that same word phrase, don't change any words, but it would read, let him that stole steal. No more let him labor with his hands. And all you're doing is moving a comma, and you're completely changing the meaning of the word. That's what he's talking about. It has to fit grammatically, okay, and contextually in the meaning. Now, contextually, what do you mean? That's where they have a problem of people that very often take scripture out of context. Just completely out of context. Well, think about the verse where the Apostle Paul says, I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. If you weren't familiar with the five verses prior to that, which puts it in context, Paul had gotten to the point where he was just as happy and just as satisfied whether he was abused, whether he was in prison, or whether he was uplifted. He was just as happy either way. Then he could say, I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me, once he got to that point. You say, well, yeah, but that was the Apostle Paul. He was different. The reality is the Apostle Paul didn't have any more of Jesus than we do. I just got a feeling, I know for sure that Jesus had a whole lot more of the Apostle Paul than he had of me, than he has of me. And, but that's, the context that scripture is, is very important to the interpretation of the scripture. So if we interpret a text in a way that contradicts or adds to what is revealed, like I said, the first example I gave you contradicted what the meaning. Okay? And in some studies, you just add things. If we do that, we've committed a grave and dangerous error, according to the author, and it's certainly true. Now, the third point there says, the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit does not nullify the need for teachers, preachers, Bible institutes, or seminaries. And if you look in Romans 12, verse 7, do we have that? Is that one of our scriptures that we have? OK, and what this is, this is a group of verses that talk about what I believe to be the primary basic spiritual gifts. And in verse seven, it says, if it's service, then let him serve or he who teaches in his teaching. So it's actually an appointed spiritual gift. the teaching instruction is. So we don't depend. We can also have teachers. The Bible says we can have teachers. We need to have teachers, don't we? But the reality is the bulk or the mainstream of our study in God's Word should come from our own study. Okay? The teaching is great. You know, our pastors, our leaders, our elders and everything are wonderful. And they have a very extremely important function in our developing and interpreting and learning the Word of God. But the basic should be your own study, okay? And see what it brings to, what the Holy Spirit brings to you then. The scriptures clearly teach that the Lord has given the gift of teaching and to some members of the church that they might be instruments through which the Holy Spirit instructs the church. How many of you think you got the gift of teaching? I can tell you and I can tell you wholeheartedly that's not my primary spiritual gift. Teaching is not my primary spiritual gift. And if you know much about the spiritual gifts, and there's been over the last 25 years, there's been worlds of different studies on spiritual gifts. I've seen some courses or some studies saying there's 36 spiritual gifts. I think these are the ones that are outlined in Romans chapter 12, I believe, are the primary basic spiritual gifts. Anything other than these are sub-gifts, so to speak, I would think. Spiritual gifts are important. They're very important. As a matter of fact, it's just as important and probably more important for me to know what Fred's spiritual gift is as it is for Fred to know. You say, well, how can that be? Well, if I know what Fred's primary spiritual gift is, I know what makes Fred tick. Okay? The person with the gift of teaching, what's the most important factor to them, you think? What's the most important factor to the person with the gift, the spiritual gift of teaching? Truth. If it ain't true, don't say it. If it's almost true, don't say it. If it's got just a little bit of truth in it, don't say it. The person with the spiritual gift of teaching, truth is the most important thing to them. And I had a, and that applies over to secular teachers as well. You ever had a math teacher that said, well, if you get it close to right, you're okay? Doesn't happen, dude. I had a math teacher when I was in high school by the name of Inez Love. And the most stoic, never cracked a smile. I mean, never cracked a smile. One of the greatest teachers I ever had. But don't you even get close to being wrong because it was going to be wrong. It had to be it had to be correct. It had. And that's the most important factor to someone with the gift of teaching is truth. Yeah. See I ran off in that ditch a little bit. The illumination of the Holy Spirit in the scriptures. Let's look back at these. Always remember the differences between the inspiration of the scriptures and the illumination. The illumination of the Holy Spirit does not guarantee that everything we interpret in the Bible will be correct. Many Christians, he says, even leaders have strayed from the biblical doctrine by following the supposed illumination of the Holy Spirit without submitting themselves to the grammar of the scriptures again and the Holy Spirit himself. Illumination does not mean that the Spirit will guide us through some voice or feeling in the heart. But He will teach us through what He has written in the Scriptures. And like I say, the Holy Spirit's probably not going to run you over with a Mack truck. That's probably not going to happen. It can oftentimes be a very gradual process. It can be a very gradual process. How about John 14, 26? Do we have that one? Okay, here are two, we're gonna look at two scriptures that are often quoted with reference to the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. They do have a general application and very limited to all believers, but what Christ was doing here, he was primarily talking and referring to the work of the Holy Spirit when it come to inspiring the apostles to write the New Testament. He says, but the helper, the Holy Spirit. whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to you remembrance all that I said to you. And in John 16, 13 through 15, he says, but when he, the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own initiative, But whatever he hears, he will speak, and he will disclose to you what is to come." Now, a lot of times those are taken, and they do have some limited applications to the everyday believer, but the primary focus with those two scriptures was his instructions to the apostles, to his disciples, concerning the writing of the New Testament. He says, but now we're going to look at some scripture verses that do refer to the doctrine of illumination that clearly apply to all believers wherever or everywhere and at all times. Let's look at Romans 8, 14. For all who are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. Now, what would that mean to us? And how that would have an application for every believer. But I just jotted down a quick little sentence. I just said the Holy Spirit leads us through our study in God's Word. He does. If we come to Him with a contrite heart and come to our Bible study with the right attitude, the Holy Spirit's going to lead us through our study. The phrase being led is also in proper grammatical structure. Again, it's in the present tense, indicating that it is a continuous action. It's not just a one-time thing, okay? It's a continuous action. The Spirit of God, he says, is faithful to lead the Christian, especially when he is diligent to study God's Word. Now, let's look at 1 Corinthians 2, 9, and 10. He said, but just as it is written, and by the way, this is a quote from Isaiah, things which I have not seen and ear have not heard and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him. For to us revealed them through the spirit, for the spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. And in chapter 2, I would encourage you to kind of make a note on your sheet there, read those scriptures all the way through verse 16. Okay? All the way through verse 16. Because that is a remarkable set of verses and dissertation of what the Holy Spirit means and how faithful He is to function you know, in the life of the believer. You'll be impressed by those next few verses even though they don't apply to our study here this morning. But God reveals to us the truth of his word through the illumination of the Holy Spirit. And the author says the spiritual realities he talks about, the spiritual realities which the natural or unconverted man cannot understand revealed to the believer through the Holy Spirit. That's why many times the Holy Spirit I think will convict the unsaved person through the scriptures but many times they just, they just, I've had people tell me, man I've read the Bible some, I just, I just don't get it. Have you ever heard anybody say that? I just don't get it. It just, for whatever reason, it didn't stick with me, it didn't bounce, it just bounced off. And that's what it is, it's a spiritual reality. Okay, it is a spiritual reality. This promise becomes even, excuse me, more tangible the more we devote ourselves to searching out these spiritual realities in the scripture. Now let's look at 1st Corinthians 2.12. It says, Now we have received, not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. What was freely given to us? Two things freely given to us, what it is. Eternal salvation through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and also his word to live by, okay? And to know him more fully. A phrase I heard a long time ago, it says, the more we know, the more we grow. The more we know, the more we grow. The more we know about God, the closer we grow to him. And that's what he's talking about there. Let's look at 1st John 2.27. Excuse me. It says, As for you, the anointing which you receive from him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. Oh boy. You say, well, that counteracts what you talked about a while ago about those teachers. He says, but as his anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in him. Now this word anointing comes from the Greek word charisma. In this text, the word refers to the person, the person of the Holy Spirit. Now the text does not deny the need for teachers and preachers. And some people are going to take that out of grammatical context and say, well, according to this, we don't need nobody to teach us. That's not the case. It simply affirms that every believer is able to understand the great truths of the scripture through the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. And thank God. How many of you sat under some, what you would consider, really good, valuable Bible teachers. You know, I mean, you'll come across pastors and preachers that have what I call different lanes that they run in. Some are very evangelistic. Some are teachers, remarkable teachers. You know, and some are just great Bible expositors. And in some, maybe a little more monotone. Some that you wonder if they're going to take a breath, you know. But we said under a pastor up in Montana that probably what I consider one of the most remarkable teachers. And let me tell you, boy, it was truth. It was all about truth with him. And thank you, Darryl. I appreciate that. I don't know if it helped much or not, but I appreciate it. But, oh, that thing's, it's got a hole in it. Thank you, Cody. Maybe we need to roll this thing up then, huh? But his name was, his name is a funny name. His name was Red. His last name was Barry. Red Barry. And he was, if some of you know and remember Brother Sam Cathy. Him and Sam were roommates in college. They were roommates and best friends in college. His name was Carlston. That's why everyone called him Red. He had a real red complexion, red hair, and so, and his last name was Barry, so Red Barry just fit good with him. And, but he was, he was a remarkable teacher. And as a matter of fact, he, what did we have, about 30, 35 regular attendants at that little under a strip mall, basement church, Baptist church there, which in Montana, there wasn't many Baptist churches. And we constituted the second year, so we actually had a constituted church. But in that group of 30, 35 people, there was six ordained pastors. Six ordained pastors. These young preacher boys would come from all over the country, in different parts of the United States, to study under Brother Red. And he held theology classes three nights a week besides his functions as pastor of the church. And again, it was all about truth. And some people are gifted for that. And he certainly was. Okay. All right, let's look at how many of you like matching problems? You got one side that's a column, and that's what we're going to do on this last page. We're going to get you involved in this. According to the following texts, how can we limit or restrict the illuminating work of the spirit within us? Do you know you can do that? You can restrict. the Holy Spirit. You actually can. He's not going to force himself on you. He will not force himself on you. Let's look at Matthew 13, 15, and I want you guys to give me the right answer. Matthew 13, 15. Oh. All right. Well, this is a homework assignment then. See, that's the way a teacher turns it over pretty fast when he's not prepared. I thought you guys had these. Yeah, it's, if you'll look at, and I'll give you the answers. If you look at Matthew 13, 15, and again, this is part of another quote from Isaiah explaining the difficulty of understanding parables. So, Matthew 13, 15, your correct answer would be E. Okay. And Acts 7, 51, your correct answer would be C. And in 1 Thessalonians 5, 19 and 20, it would be F. And in 2 Timothy 4, 3, it would be A. And in Hebrews 5, 13 and 14, your correct match would be letter D. And in James 1, 22, 23, 24, and 25, the correct Matching answer would be B. Now, I may have given you an incorrect one in there. That's your homework assignment. Just so you'll look them all up and tell me which one that I was wrong about. Okay? Look those up. Now, at the same time where these are dangers that we need to avoid, So we don't quench the work of the Holy Spirit when it comes to illuminating scriptures for us. But if you look in the next set, down there under three, it says the scriptures above show us that we must be careful not to hinder or restrict the Spirit's illuminating work in our lives. But the ones below, the following scriptures, is what we can do to work with the Spirit to grow in our knowledge of God. It says match each action in the corresponding text. John 17, 17 is letter B. Mark 4, 24 and 25 is letter D. 2 Timothy 2, 15 is letter A. And Ezra 7, 10 is letter C. And again, See if you can find where I might have led you astray there on any of those. But you get back to us. So that's basically going to conclude the lesson here. Do we have some special prayer requests that are on our hearts this morning? The Davis? Okay, I would ask that you continue to pray for the Martin family down at Duval's Bluff. It was a little under a month ago, Doan Martin, who's a good friend of mine, graduated high school with him, he passed away. And then this past week, his father passed away. And so that family, within a month, has lost two of their family members. And he lived a long life. He was 91 years old. And him and his wife had been married for 72 years. And she's going to need your prayers. I mean, after you've been with someone for 72 years, there's a void there, especially since she's lost her son, too, her oldest son. So be in prayer for the Martin family. Anyone else? Yeah, her daughter passed away last year, so she's. Okay. Anybody else? That's right, Caden and Bradley. And Janet. And your shingles are better. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord for that. We got a lot of good things to be thankful for too, folks. We really do. How many of you enjoyed losing that sleep, that hour of sleep last night? It's going to take a while to get back used to it again. And if the law passes, it may never have to change again. Anyone else, anything? Right. Well, Cody, would you close us in prayer then, please?