The greatest treasure we can hold in our hands is the written Word of God, for heaven and earth shall pass away, but God's Word remaineth for ever. His plan for humanity is revealed therein. The spoken Word came to the prophets and was written down. Later the apostles were the chosen witnesses. So we have both, the Old and the New Testament. In the Old Testament we find all the shadows, types and promises, in the New we have the overwhelming record of how every Scripture is being fulfilled to the letter. That is the convincing part of it.

It is noteworthy that the New Testament starts with the actual fulfilment of prophecies. John was a promised prophet, and our Saviour the promised Redeemer. True faith is anchored in the promised Word of God. The birth of Jesus Christ, His life, His ministry, His sufferings, death, burial, resurrection and ascension: all happened precisely as foretold by the prophets. In fact, God had history written hundreds and thousands of years beforehand. That is amazing, that is majestic! The historians are busy writing after events have taken place. God saw the end from the beginning and therefore could have all things written in advance.

At the first coming of our Lord and Saviour over one hundred prophecies came to pass. The predictions from Gen. 3:15 of the seed of the woman, who would come to bruise the serpent's head, right to Mai. 3:1, that the Lord would come to His holy temple, were fulfilled. It is advisable for everyone to read the New Testament prayerfully with the intention to mark each place where you find the terminology, "as it is written" or "as the Scripture says" or "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets." In Lk. 24 the Lord spoke to some of His disciples, beginning at Moses, the Psalms and the Prophets, confirming that it all was accomplished. Because Jesus Christ remains the same, He would have to point out the Scriptures which are being fulfilled now. If we are to know what God will do, we must first find out what He has promised.

The cry of Moses is also ours, "I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way…" (Ex. 33:13). God does everything according to His Word and says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:8-9). Anyone who truly finds grace with God will recognize His ways with His people and partake in whatever He does at this time. We must search the Scriptures as never before to be sure what to expect.

A big problem of course arises because so many clergymen refer to the Scriptures saying, "it is written", while at the same time misinterpreting, misapplying and misplacing the Word of God. Jesus found the religious teachers of His day in such a state. They had made the true Word of God of no effect to the people, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (Mk. 7:13). The old enemy certainly does not deny the existence of God (Jas. 2:191 nor His Word (Lk. 4:1-13). He simply puts his own interpretations and question marks behind it. One could repeatedly say, "it is written, it is written" and decorate himself with Scriptures from top to bottom, and yet be without divine revelation and totally outside the will of God. There is a vast difference between revelation and interpretation. One comes from God, the other one comes from Satan – one brings life and one brings death. As long as Adam and Eve believed and obeyed the Word of God they had eternal life, when they listened to the explanation of the old serpent they fell and death struck them (Gen. 3). Too many have left the tree of life for the tree of knowledge and have become wise within themselves – having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof (II Tim. 3:5).

When Christ was tempted by Satan during the forty days, it is noteworthy that the enemy dared to say, "it is written…". It is obvious since the garden of Eden that he misconstrues the Word of God. That is the dangerous part of it. He will do the same right to the end, deceiving people by misusing the Scriptures, which should not be privately interpreted (II Pet. 1:20). All the false prophets (Mt. 24:24) and all the false apostles (II Cor. 11:13) present themselves as being sent by Christ. Satan shows himself as an angel of light. "Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works" (II Cor. 11:14-15).

God's promised Word must be experienced, not explained. God's prophetic Word must be watched as it conies to pass.

Our Lord had a right to use the Scripture, and thereby overcame Satan. If the promised Word for today is manifested through the believers, they have the right to refer to it. The question arises, how can one know where the true Word is being preached, and who are those whom Christ Himself has commissioned to speak in His Name? Jesus said of the ones He sends, "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that re-ceiveth me receiveth him that sent me" (Mt. 10:40). He also said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me…" (Jn. 13:20). Finally He said of those He chose for the ministry, "…as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you" (Jn. 20:21).

Every true God-called man must be able to say what Paul wrote, "But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:11-12). Equally important is what the apostle Peter said, "… And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you" (I Pet. 1:25). The apostle John comes forth with the strongest statement, "We are of God. He that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. By this know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error" (Un. 4:6).

Jesus, our Lord, said, "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God…" (Jn. 3:34). In Jn. 8:43 he asked, "Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word." In v. 47 He continued and said, "He that is of God heareth God's words; ye, therefore, hear them not, because ye are not of God." According to these words of our Lord, everyone has the possibility to check himself as to whether or not he accepts and remains in every Word of God without any inner resistance or argumentation. Usually the one who preaches just reads a Bible text and then presents his own thoughts without remaining within the limits of God's holy Word. The time for the final checkup is here. We must prove all things.

All we believe and do must first stand the Word-test. Paul because of a revelation went to Jerusalem to compare his preaching with the original Word that was taught from the beginning. He gave an exposition of what he was teaching among the Gentiles, stating, "…lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain" (Gal. 2:1-3). A successful ministry is no proof that the preaching is truth. In the sight of God even casting out devils, miracles and prophesying do not suffice (Mt. 7:21). Jesus warned us about the many anointed ones which would come on the scene in the last days, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Mt. 24:24). It is most important that we compare our preaching and practice with the original "apostles' doctrine" (Acts 2:42) as Paul did.

Knowing about the deviations from the Word, our Lord would also sav today, "However, in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mk. 7:7). God rejects everything that is not done according to His Word. "God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (Jn. 4:24). The Word of Truth and the Spirit of Truth will always be together. Those who preach and the ones who are listening must not judge things from their point of view, but should take their stand on the infallible Word and look upon the matter God's way.

The greatest treasure we can hold in our hands is the written Word of God, for heaven and earth shall pass away, but God's Word remaineth for ever. His plan for humanity is revealed therein. The spoken Word came to the prophets and was written down. Later the apostles were the chosen witnesses. So we have both, the Old and the New Testament. In the Old Testament we find all the shadows, types and promises, in the New we have the overwhelming record of how every Scripture is being fulfilled to the letter. That is the convincing part of it.

It is noteworthy that the New Testament starts with the actual fulfilment of prophecies. John was a promised prophet, and our Saviour the promised Redeemer. True faith is anchored in the promised Word of God. The birth of Jesus Christ, His life, His ministry, His sufferings, death, burial, resurrection and ascension: all happened precisely as foretold by the prophets. In fact, God had history written hundreds and thousands of years beforehand. That is amazing, that is majestic! The historians are busy writing after events have taken place. God saw the end from the beginning and therefore could have all things written in advance.

At the first coming of our Lord and Saviour over one hundred prophecies came to pass. The predictions from Gen. 3:15 of the seed of the woman, who would come to bruise the serpent's head, right to Mai. 3:1, that the Lord would come to His holy temple, were fulfilled. It is advisable for everyone to read the New Testament prayerfully with the intention to mark each place where you find the terminology, "as it is written" or "as the Scripture says" or "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets." In Lk. 24 the Lord spoke to some of His disciples, beginning at Moses, the Psalms and the Prophets, confirming that it all was accomplished. Because Jesus Christ remains the same, He would have to point out the Scriptures which are being fulfilled now. If we are to know what God will do, we must first find out what He has promised.

The cry of Moses is also ours, "I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way…" (Ex. 33:13). God does everything according to His Word and says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:8-9). Anyone who truly finds grace with God will recognize His ways with His people and partake in whatever He does at this time. We must search the Scriptures as never before to be sure what to expect.

A big problem of course arises because so many clergymen refer to the Scriptures saying, "it is written", while at the same time misinterpreting, misapplying and misplacing the Word of God. Jesus found the religious teachers of His day in such a state. They had made the true Word of God of no effect to the people, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (Mk. 7:13). The old enemy certainly does not deny the existence of God (Jas. 2:191 nor His Word (Lk. 4:1-13). He simply puts his own interpretations and question marks behind it. One could repeatedly say, "it is written, it is written" and decorate himself with Scriptures from top to bottom, and yet be without divine revelation and totally outside the will of God. There is a vast difference between revelation and interpretation. One comes from God, the other one comes from Satan – one brings life and one brings death. As long as Adam and Eve believed and obeyed the Word of God they had eternal life, when they listened to the explanation of the old serpent they fell and death struck them (Gen. 3). Too many have left the tree of life for the tree of knowledge and have become wise within themselves – having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof (II Tim. 3:5).

When Christ was tempted by Satan during the forty days, it is noteworthy that the enemy dared to say, "it is written…". It is obvious since the garden of Eden that he misconstrues the Word of God. That is the dangerous part of it. He will do the same right to the end, deceiving people by misusing the Scriptures, which should not be privately interpreted (II Pet. 1:20). All the false prophets (Mt. 24:24) and all the false apostles (II Cor. 11:13) present themselves as being sent by Christ. Satan shows himself as an angel of light. "Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works" (II Cor. 11:14-15).

God's promised Word must be experienced, not explained. God's prophetic Word must be watched as it conies to pass.

Our Lord had a right to use the Scripture, and thereby overcame Satan. If the promised Word for today is manifested through the believers, they have the right to refer to it. The question arises, how can one know where the true Word is being preached, and who are those whom Christ Himself has commissioned to speak in His Name? Jesus said of the ones He sends, "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that re-ceiveth me receiveth him that sent me" (Mt. 10:40). He also said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me…" (Jn. 13:20). Finally He said of those He chose for the ministry, "…as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you" (Jn. 20:21).

Every true God-called man must be able to say what Paul wrote, "But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:11-12). Equally important is what the apostle Peter said, "… And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you" (I Pet. 1:25). The apostle John comes forth with the strongest statement, "We are of God. He that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. By this know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error" (Un. 4:6).

Jesus, our Lord, said, "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God…" (Jn. 3:34). In Jn. 8:43 he asked, "Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word." In v. 47 He continued and said, "He that is of God heareth God's words; ye, therefore, hear them not, because ye are not of God." According to these words of our Lord, everyone has the possibility to check himself as to whether or not he accepts and remains in every Word of God without any inner resistance or argumentation. Usually the one who preaches just reads a Bible text and then presents his own thoughts without remaining within the limits of God's holy Word. The time for the final checkup is here. We must prove all things.

All we believe and do must first stand the Word-test. Paul because of a revelation went to Jerusalem to compare his preaching with the original Word that was taught from the beginning. He gave an exposition of what he was teaching among the Gentiles, stating, "…lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain" (Gal. 2:1-3). A successful ministry is no proof that the preaching is truth. In the sight of God even casting out devils, miracles and prophesying do not suffice (Mt. 7:21). Jesus warned us about the many anointed ones which would come on the scene in the last days, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Mt. 24:24). It is most important that we compare our preaching and practice with the original "apostles' doctrine" (Acts 2:42) as Paul did.

Knowing about the deviations from the Word, our Lord would also sav today, "However, in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mk. 7:7). God rejects everything that is not done according to His Word. "God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (Jn. 4:24). The Word of Truth and the Spirit of Truth will always be together. Those who preach and the ones who are listening must not judge things from their point of view, but should take their stand on the infallible Word and look upon the matter God's way.