2nd Feb 2011

John 5:16-30 – Testimonies about Jesus.

• “Holy Scriptures”
• Jesus speaks to those who diligently study scriptures but cannot believe in Him.
• There is a problem for some of us.
• God is three in one.
• Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• Not
• Father, Son and Holy Scriptures.
• I love the Bible but the Bible is not God. You can study the Bible until you are blue in the face but it does not guarantee you will discover God.
• Jesus gives three reasons why some study but do not find.
• They study but do not seek – they seek instead the praise of men, in fact that is probably why they study. Preferring the praise of men to the praise of God will always create a spiritual blindfold within us. It automatically makes it much harder for us to see Him. It is interesting how the most insecure people on the planet – performers – tend to have a great deal of award ceremonies. They need that constant affirmation.
• They study but it does not stay – the Jewish New Testament compiled by believers translate “dwell” as stay. This fits into the third part of the thinking process in the Jewish mind “daat”. This is where what is understood stays within us and becomes part of us. It is where we do certain things to help what we have understood become part of who we are. We act upon what we understand, we meditate upon it etc.
• They study but do not love – I believe to truly find God we have to be prepared to love what He loves. Just loving Him for what He does for us I at least believe again limits our view of Him. I think Jesus sees this in them. They will only love based on what they get from God and so His love is hidden from them.
• The Bible testifies about Jesus. All the way through it the Word points to Him. But we need to pray for the right heart to hear it, understand it and allow it to stay in our hearts.
• Praying for that today.