Avisandum. In Scott's Law, this term describes the careful consideration given by the judge before an important decision. Join me each week as we explore various topics from a spiritual perspective and take matters, Avisandum.
Sometimes I hear this statement from Christ's followers, God told me. It's not clear exactly what the individuals are saying. Are they saying that they have an impression of what God is saying? Are they quoting from Holy Scripture? Or are they making a prophecy?
Are they saying that God spoke to them directly as He spoke to the apostles who inspired Scripture? It's all very confusing. I'm certainly not saying that God does not speak to us. He has clearly spoken to us in His Word, which is truth. But we should be very careful in saying, God told me so.
If God speaks to someone, that would mean that what he says is inspired and inert. It's impossible for God to lie.
So, if the person is claiming divine revelation, they're claiming the authority of Holy Scripture. The third commandment exhorts us not to take the name of the Lord in vain. To use the name of the Lord to give one own ideas or opinions is very dangerous It one thing to say I believe that God wants me to do something It another thing to claim absolute authority So we must be very careful The Holy Scriptures were written over a period of 1,500 years, and the Bible is the only book that God has ever written. It composes what we call the biblical canon of Scripture. The canon is authoritative, sufficient for our salvation and sanctification.
It's without error. It's absolutely authoritative as it comes from the living God. The Apostle Peter explains that no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, But man spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. That's 2 Peter 1 verse 21. The New Testament was written by apostles or their delegates.
The apostles were those who had seen the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12 verse 12. Today we have self apostles and prophets They claim to be anointed by God Many of them give extra revelation and claim that God spoke to them Despite many of their prophecies or statements not being true, which are manifestly false, they continue with their spurious claims. Don't be deluded by such false teachers. I love how the prophet Isaiah begins his prophecy.
Hear, O heavens, give ear, O earth, for the Lord has spoken. That's Isaiah 1 verse 2. How wonderful to read the Word of God and know that God is speaking to us. For when the Bible speaks, God is speaking. Another Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, writes about prophets who prophesy lies and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart.
He goes on to say, Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. And then Jeremiah emphasizes that God's word is like fire. It's like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces. How wonderful. Jeremiah goes on to say, Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who steal my words from one another.
They lead the people of God astray by their lies and their recklessness when I did not send them or charge them These quotes are all from Jeremiah chapter 23 Now I know there are people who say God told me, who do not claim to be apostles or prophets. But nonetheless, we should be very careful. God has given us 66 inspired books. Let's devote ourselves to read and to study them. When I preach, I don't preach my own ideas or opinions or thoughts or give extra-biblical revelations.
Paul writes, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. That's 2 Timothy 3, verse 16. Avizandum. You're listening to the weekly Avizandum podcast from The Verdict, featuring Pastor John Monroe. John is senior pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Listen to John's daily program, The Verdict, on broadcast radio or major podcast platforms. For more information about the Verdict ministry, visit us online at calvarychurch.com slash theverdict.
