Acts 17:10,11 – “Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These [the people of Berea] were more fair-minded [noble] than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (NKJV).
This scripture is very powerful and reveals to us the attitude that every believer should have towards what the Word of God truly teaches. Whenever we hear a message taught or preached from the Word of God we must do what the Bereans did; they searched the scriptures daily, diligently and interpreting the scriptures correctly to be sure that what they heard was true and consistent with the Word of God. I believe that far too many Christians hold fast to what their pastor, favorite preacher or what their denomination teaches without making sure that it is in agreement with the Bible.
The King James version of the Bible says in that verse that the Bereans were more noble than those in Thessalonica. What was it about the believers in Berea that caused the Holy Spirit (remember that the Bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit – 2 Peter 1:20, 21) to say that they were noble? The Holy Spirit called them noble because after they heard Paul and Silas preach, they searched out the scriptures diligently to confirm that the message that they heard was consistent with the teachings of the Word of God or the Scriptures.
When I was a new believer many years ago, I developed a deep hunger to read the Bible. I soon discovered that many things that I learned in church as a youngster were contrary to the teachings of the Bible. What was I to do? After prayer and meditation, I came to realize that I was at a crossroad in my life and I had to make a vital decision. I had to decide if I was going to live my life according to what the church and denomination taught that I was raised up in, or was I to live my life according what the Bible, the Word of God taught. One night, after much thought, prayer and meditation, I decided that with God’s help, I was going to let God’s Word direct my life.
Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (NKJV).
Romans 12:1,2 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world [or its belief system], but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
The temptation is great, to allow the traditions and attitudes of the world to direct your life instead of the pure and complete word of God. I beg you, my friends, to follow the instructions of the Apostle Paul in the above verse and not be conformed to the attitudes and mindset of modern society, but let your thinking be transformed by the true and pure Word of God, the Bible. IF YOU ALLOW THE WORD OF GOD, TO CHANGE YOUR THINKING, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!!
A friend of mine, Bryan Baysinger, once said, “a search for truth is a dangerous endeavor.” A search for the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth of God’s word will force you out of your comfort zone and at the same time bring the light of His Word into your life and set you free, converting you from a manpleaser to become a Godpleaser.
Here’s part of what Yeshua prayed in John 17:14,16 & 17 – “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world…They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (NKJV).
Tommy Tenney has written a book called “The God Chasers;” where he exhorts the body of Messiah to passionately and tenaciously chase after God above all things. I would exhort you, my friend to be a God Chaser as Mr. Tenney says; in becoming a God chaser, you will naturally find yourself becoming a pursuer of God’s pure, unadulterated truth which can only be found in God’s holy and infallible word that we call the Bible.
In closing, let me say that in pursuing God’s truth above all things, you will free yourself from the desire to follow man-made traditions; you will be freed from the fear of people’s opinion about you and you will be possessed with a burning passion to know the Word of God and the God of the Word in a deeper and more intimate way.
Coming soon!!! My article on interpreting the Word of God correctly! Please look for it and read it in the near future. Shalom!
Brian
