Bible Truths Illustrated by J. C. Ferdinand Pittman
Bible truths illustrated for the use of preachers, teachers, bible-school, Christian endeavor, temperance and other Christian workers
Bible truths illustrated for the use of preachers, teachers, bible-school, Christian endeavor, temperance and other Christian workers
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—<br />
BIBLE TRUTHS ILLUSTRATED<br />
You said your prayers this morning before you began work.' I<br />
had not prayed; but I never forgot to pray from that day to<br />
this, and, <strong>by</strong> God's blessing, I never will." Sermon Illustrator.<br />
INSPIRATION<br />
478. Inspiration, as we find it in the Scriptures, is the influence<br />
of God's Holy Spirit in the minds of men <strong>by</strong> which they were<br />
able to reveal the mysteries of God to their fellow-men. "Men<br />
spake from God, being moved <strong>by</strong> the Holy Spirit" (2 Pet. 1:21).<br />
Thus, influenced, they were able to reveal the will of God without<br />
foreknowledge or premeditation (Matt. 10:19, 20). Inspiration<br />
included the thought and the word or words that were best<br />
suited to express it. The apostle Paul says : "We received, not<br />
the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that<br />
we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.<br />
Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom<br />
teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth, comparing spiritual<br />
things with spiritual words" (1 Cor. 2:12, 13). It is evident<br />
from this that the very words were inspired. They were God's<br />
words, hence the whole is "the word of God." This accounts for<br />
its marvelous power. " It gives new life to those who receive it.<br />
"Having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of<br />
incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and<br />
abideth" (1 Pet. 1:23). It also sanctifies the believer in Christ.<br />
"Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).<br />
Inspiration, thus viewed, does not necessarily deprive the inspired<br />
man of free agency or reduce him to a mere machine. We may<br />
not limit the power of the Spirit. He could inspire without<br />
interfering with the subject's idiosyncrasies, and without his<br />
feeling himself fettered or hampered. The fact that different<br />
words are used to tell the same thing, as in the synoptic Gospels,<br />
is no argument against the verbal theory of inspiration. The Holy<br />
Spirit is not restricted to one set of words. It is the only absolutely<br />
safe view to take of Holy Scripture ; for unless the very<br />
words, as originally spoken or written, were inspired, what assurance<br />
can we have that the thoughts of the Holy Spirit have been<br />
correctly conveyed to us? David said: "The opening of thy words<br />
giveth light" (Ps. 119: 130). That is, the thought opens out, like<br />
a rosebud, through the words, giving light to the soul of man.<br />
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