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'Christ in You...'
by Dale Krebbs
If you wanted to deceive the most of Christianity with the least effort, while drawing the least attention, where would you strike first?
This can perhaps be described as a Trojan Horse he can use against the knowledge and the truth of God. One of the Devil's main strategies to deceive the whole world is to corrupt God's Word, the Bible, and to do so by any means available to him. Actually, it has always been part of his plan. He quoted scripture to Jesus when He was tried. He misapplied scripture.This tactic also, can be used by him anytime and anywhere the scriptures are involved if he is allowed to do so.(Luke 4:1-14). Since that temptation of Jesus by Satan, he has used misapplication of scripture ever since then.
This is perhaps one the most unsuspected and most effective tactic he could use. By corrupting Bible interpretations, he strikes at the very foundation of Christianity and God's plan for mankind and the world. When someone wants to demolish a building or any sizable structure, demolition crews insert explosives in or close to the foundation. When the explosion occurs, everything built on it collapses. All that is then required is the cleanup. Satan is the master demolitionist of the lives of individuals, organizations, or anything that is remotely related to God, Godliness, and Truth.
There are many Bible translations today. More than ever before. The individual Christian can become very confused about which to choose. How can you be sure that a scripture is translated correctly, and as close to the original as possible? The truth is, you can't. No one can. But, thankfully, God knows this, and has provided a wonderful solution. As in all things in your Christian life, you are never left on you own. Remember the words of Jesus. If you are obeying Him, the Holy Spirit dwelling in you will lead you into all truth.(John 14:15-17).
There is only one sure way to know the answer to this perplexing and confusing problem. We must go to the source of the words that were originally inspired. But how can you accomplish this. One cannot go back in time and investigate the human instrument that penned the first stroke of a pen to record what has accumulated into what we know as the Holy Bible. The truth is, we can do even better than that. We can seek out the One who did the inspiring, and used the human instrument to put into writing what he was told to write. You must make sure you are close to Jesus Christ, and depending upon someone outside of yourself or others.
That One is the Holy Spirit. He is the only one who knows exactly what He inspired. Bible translators, hopefully, go to Him when deciding upon a correct rendering of the manuscripts available. However, there are always honest differences of opinion for one reason or another. So - what shall the Christian do?
There can be only one solution.
The Holy Spirit is the Master Interpreter, the original Inspirer, and the Master of scripture dictation. Go In humble prayer and supplication, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your understanding and application of God's Word. Translators have done the best they can. Now it is up to you and the Holy Spirit. He is the only One who knows it all. Not only does He know what He originally intended, but He knows exactly how you and I are to apply it to our individual lives today. He knows how to communicate His meaning most effectively for your growth in Jesus Christ. He knows how to tune in to your bent, you personality, your need.
The Holy Spirit communicates the same truth to everyone. But He will vary the way it is communicated to each according to where each one is spiritually. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into understanding the truth that Jesus has given to Him. Use a reputable translation, but always seek the interpretation that the Holy Spirit will give to you, so that you can apply it to your life. Then trust the Holy Spirit to lead and direct you as you yield to Him.
There are almost endless variables in ways He can best communicate the same truth of God's word to each person. The Holy Spirit was the original One who dictated scripture. Therefore, He is the only One who can communicate what He originally wrote, and - most importantly - who can lead you to apply a scripture correctly to your life where you are, the way you are, according to your need, which He also knows. Only He can match the scriptures to your heart and mind.
Satan knows all this. He knows it better than your or me, or anyone. But if he can influence you to not trust God through the Holy Spirit who resides in you, he can destroy your spiritual foundation by leading you to get a wrong impressions of what the Bible really means.You can destroy his Trojan Horse only by depending on the Holy Spirit. He will help you. He will guide you. Jesus has promised!
"But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the Spirit] will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you." - John 16:12-15 (AMP)
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