He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him (Prov

"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him" (Prov. 18:13). I may have done a post some time in the past with this as the text scripture, but if I have, it is certainly time to do another one. First let's look at the way people NEED to approach things, ESPECIALLY when it comes to seeking out the truth of God: "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:10,11). Dear God, where are the Bereans today!!?? Oh, don't get me wrong, there actually are a few scattered here and there. In fact I am persuaded that there are a few who read these posts fairly regularly, and on our other sites as well. They know who they are, and they are surely not overlooked by the omnipresent eyes of God. But those people are just about in the negative numbers of percentages of people, because there are innumerable folks who are everywhere THINKING they are seeking out the truth of God, and are not. I know for a fact that the overwhelming majority who read my posts do not even look up the referenced scriptures that are not directly quoted in the article. Man, did Amos ever hit the target with this powerful prophecy of truth!: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it" (Amos 8:11,12). That day is NOW my friend, and note that the prophecy does not say that these people wandering and running to and fro would REALIZE that they hadn't found God's word. Most people are seeking nothing but their own inflated opinion, as the following proverb also states: "A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself" (Prov. 18:2). There are just plainly a lot of talking heads and typing hands saying a whole lot of nothing about what they think is the way it is with the truth of God. I've got news my friend, NOTHING is the way ANYBODY thinks about God's word. God's word is what it is, and it is NOT the Bible; it is GOD'S WORD! Now some hasty heart has decided that I'm saying something bad about the Bible, but quite the contrary in fact is true. God's word is what GOD SAYS, and what God says by his Spirit can and will ALWAYS be backed up by an abundance of scripture that fits together just right to confirm that word (Rev. 2:7; II Tim. 3:16).

The only way anyone finds the word of God is exactly like Jesus said: "He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven... and upon this rock I will build my [congregation]; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Mat. 16:15-18). So those who will not be overcome by the gates of hell are those who walk in the truth that HAS BEEN REVEALED to them by God. Period. Isaiah was in agreement with the words of Jesus seven hundred years before Jesus was here: "And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children" (Isa. 54:13). Peace is indeed the result of holding to revealed truth, and a spirit that is hasty to say something foolish and unfounded is the result of holding to one's own misguided notions. The scripture says, "A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels" (Prov. 1:5). So where does that leave the mass majority who don't know how to listen, and are quick to dispute "wise counsels?" You guessed it. Solomon would have loved the Bereans, as he was well aware of what it takes to attain unto the word of God: "So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: OUT OF HIS MOUTH cometh knowledge and understanding" (Prov. 2:2-6). Remember what I said about the word of God being what comes out of God's mouth? Solomon agreed with that too, as you can see. The truth is, the misguided concept of the Bible being the word of God just adds up to anyone deciding what the scriptures mean for themselves, and takes away the diligent search and laboring in prayer aspects of the equation. Just open 'er up, and wahlah! You've got the word of God!! How convenient, and it gets to mean whatever you say it means too! There is a word commonly used by the ungodly that fits here, but I'll have to pass. I'm sure you know what it is. But try this passage of scripture on for size: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Pet. 1:19-21). Now that's the way it is friend, whether you are on the giving end of that, or the receiving end. There is no other way of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. It is by revelation from heaven, and it is delivered by means of the anointing of the holy Ghost, whether by voice or by writing; as the apostles attested to: "Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven" (I Pet. 1:12).

That is the way it's always been, but nobody wants absolution from heaven today, because everyone is too in love with their own puffed up, darkened counsel. I personally have not preached or written anything for more than at least twenty eight years except by the revelation and anointing of the holy Ghost, and I KNOW that this disciple's record is true! Does that sound arrogant to you? If so, then that shows that you are arrogant, because that is the way IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE for EVERYONE who preaches or writes ANYTHING regarding the Lord's gospel. Anyone who is NOT operating ONLY by these means is COMPLETELY OUT OF ORDER, and getting themselves in trouble with God. I'm just normal, that's all. Nobody special, just "an unprofitable servant;" defined by Jesus as someone who is just doing what they have been told to do (Lk. 17:10). Yet I continually encounter almost nothing but disputes, rebuttals, contentions, and opposition to almost everything I preach or write. Innumerable people who frequent our various social media sites constantly give ridiculous responses to things like the TITLE of an article, without even reading the linked article. How's that for answering a matter before hearing it? And how's that for NOT being like the Bereans? I see that and other like things every day in multiplicity. In person too, all the time. Am I complaining? OF COURSE NOT, this reality does nothing but put me in very good company, and I wouldn't trade it for anything (Lk. 6:22-25). This has gone on for so long in my ministry that these kinds of things are water off a duck's back with me. On the other hand, it is NOT helping the talking and quacking heads of those who know nothing but haste and their own futile opinions. Most people are dealing with the things of God the same way they and others deal with everything else in life; with hastiness of spirit, and without any worthwhile preparation of heart. They should consider the sobering and fearful words of this proverb: "Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him" (Prov. 29:20). If people are bound an determined to challenge and refute the words that come from heaven, I'm afraid that is just their own problem. And trust me when I say, I have absolutely no pleasure or sense of accomplishment by watching people actively harden their own hearts with their resistance to the holy Ghost. And neither did the man who spoke these memorable words: "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God" (Jn. 3:19-21). I'll finish this post by saying that those who do honestly search the scriptures, and who do honestly lift up their voice to God for understanding; are truly endeared to my heart, and certainly to the heart of our Lord Jesus. Truly "I love in the truth" all who are such, and they know who they are (III Jn. 1:1). May God bless you with all of his abundant grace always. Amen.