Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Precept Upon Precept or Stammering Lips?

For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Isaiah 28:11-13

Through my years of bible study, I had always understood that the deepest and most revelatory understanding of Scripture came through a line by line study of the Word, particularly with an in-depth study of the original language, whether it be Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek. There are even studies with the terms precept in their titles, all of which promote a deep understanding of God and His Word. While I certainly value an in-depth study of the Bible and taught in-depth studies for years, I often came away with an understanding in some areas but confusion in others that only left me with more unanswered questions. It was a vicious cycle of feeling convicted, condemned, and uncertain as to whether God truly loved me. I know this may not have been the intention of the study or the teacher, but the effect was NOT the joy of the Lord nor the Good News of the Gospel as promised in the New Testament. I realized something was very wrong!

It wasn't until I started praying in the Spirit that revelation of this deadly form of study was made clear. I found teaching on grace and came to understand that these precept studies often extract grace (which points to Christ and His redemption) and insert the Mosaic law (which is harsh, unforgiving, and judgmental) - or worse than that - combine grace with the law. According to Jesus, this combination is tantamount to pouring new wine into old wineskins, which ruins both! (Luke 5:38). Furthermore, Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians 3:7-9 that this mixture of grace and law is actually the ministry of condemnation and death! No wonder I always came away from bible study and church feeling like an ole dirty, low-down, rotten sinner!

Where is this joy, peace, and rest promised in the Gospel? I often asked myself. It certainly didn't come from these in-depth Bible studies, but it did begin to come when I prayed in the Spirit and began to look at the Word with a fresh set of eyes - through the eyes of grace and NOT the law. Well, isn't this what the Father prophesied in Isaiah 28? The rest promised by Him will not come through line upon line study - the Pharisees had been studying Old Testament Scripture for years before Jesus arrived on the scene and they were blind to the ways of God. No, the Father said that the rest IN HIM would come through stammering lips and an unknown tongue. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:21 that this prophecy was fulfilled through the Holy Spirit-given prayer language. 

As we see in Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, a deep revelation of the Old Testament prophecies were downloaded into the apostles and disciples, all of which POINTED TO JESUS, not the law! Just look at the bold sermon Peter preached to the Jews on that day of Pentecost 2000 years ago. As soon as he was baptized with power from on high, he spoke with other tongues and his understanding of how Jesus fulfilled Scripture grew astronomically! Even on the road to Emmaus, Jesus taught those two disciples how all the Scriptures pointed to Him! By the Spirit, He opened their eyes to the truth of His fulfillment of all the law and the prophets. (Luke 24:27-31). Bottom line: if your precept studies don't point to the finished work of Jesus, then reject them as deadly!

Religion rejects tongues, just as Isaiah prophesied and Paul explained in his New Testament letter to the Corinthians. Religion will continue to insist on a line upon line study of the Word without any revelation given by the teacher (and comforter), who is the Holy Spirit! While Jesus may be mentioned, there is often a great focus on sin, the law, and judgment that brings about condemnation and fear. This is NOT the good news of the Gospel! Just as Isaiah prophesied, this refusal to accept God's perfect plan will cause many to fall backward, be broken, snared, and taken! 

In order for us to truly hear from the Lord and our heavenly Father, we must learn from the Holy Spirit who will always point solely to Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the only teacher who will lead and guide us into all truth. Yes, there may be repentance and correction, but it will be done gently and in the spirit of love not in the spirit of condemnation and fear. 

If you've been warned by well-meaning denominational teachers to reject tongues as unnecessary (or even of the devil), consider praying to the Lord and reexamine the Scriptures with a fresh set of eyes. Ask Him to enlighten your understanding so that you may come to truly see what Isaiah 28 is actually telling us. (Ephesians 1:18). In these days and times, we need to be walking in the fullness of what the Lord Jesus died to give us! Amen to that!