2. 2. The reason for this study
Learning How God Works
2. The reason for this study

3. I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. (Jeremiah 10:23 ESV)
Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment. (Isaiah 50:11)

4. feelings
If Satan cannot block faith he blocks the message. One way to do this is to confuse men on how God speaks.
nudges
signs
opinions
miracles
Holy Spirit guidance
False teachers

5. Challenged in the OT to know God’s spokesmen
“I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people…(Jeremiah 23:21-22 ESV)

6. God has revealed Jesus in the NT as His spokesman
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV)

7. God has revealed Jesus in the NT as His spokesman
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son (2 John 1:9 ESV)
Jesus chose to send His Holy Spirit to speak and reveal His will through the apostles and prophets

8. Where is the apostle’s place in the authority of Jesus?
Apostle defined; a delegate, messenger, one sent with orders
In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: (Luke 6:12-13 ESV)

9. Jesus placed the apostles at the center of his plan for saving men
Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:18)
…And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:21-23 ESV)

10. Everything has been given, once for all
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, (2 Peter 1:3 ESV)
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 1:3 ESV)

11. But, why do we need to study this?
Jesus placed the apostles at the very center of his plan for saving men
Binding and loosing would come through apostles
Forgiveness extended or withheld based on apostles revelation
Attitude toward apostles represented attitude to Jesus
But, why do we need to study this?

12. But, why do we need to study this?
Denominations have lost the fight for the word of God
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25 ESV)

13. But, why do we need to study this?
Denominations have lost the fight for the word of God
The authority of silence is NOT permission

14. The authority of silence is NOT permission
You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:2 ESV) “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it. (Deuteronomy 12:32 ESV)

15. The authority of silence is NOT permission
Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:6 ESV) I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19 ESV)

16. The authority of silence is NOT permission
whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:11 ESV)
Shall we presume to speak for God and rob Him of glory?

17. But, why do we need to study this?
Denominations have lost the fight for the word of God
The authority of silence is NOT permission
Aren’t we limiting God? No, We are believing him
…it is impossible for God to lie, we …might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. (Hebrews 6:18 ESV)

18. Aren’t we limiting God? God said, miracu. spiritual gifts would pass
Not limiting the Holy Spirit to say so
God said believe and be baptized to be saved
Not limiting his mercy to say so
God said he speaks to us in his Son
Not limiting his power to say so

19. [11] The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; [12] if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; [13] if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:11-13 ESV)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5 ESV)

20. But, why do we need to study this?
Denominations have lost the fight for the word of God
The authority of silence is NOT permission
Aren’t we limiting God? No, We are believing him
We are NOT denying providential working

21. He has made everything beautiful in its time
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV) Then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out ... (Ecclesiastes 8:17 ESV)

22. But, why do we need to study this?
Denominations have lost the fight for the word of God
The authority of silence is NOT permission
Aren’t we limiting God? No, We are believing him
We are NOT denying providential working
We are not claiming belief and advocating error

23. If the word doesn’t say it, we can’t have faith in it!
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Rom. 10:17 ESV)
If the word doesn’t say it, we can’t have faith in it!

24. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:12-13 ESV) The very words of scripture are given by the Holy Spirit

25. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV) The word is God-breathed for completing and perfecting us

26. The sufficiency of Scripture is under attack today, and, sadly, that attack comes far too often in our own churches. Management techniques, worldly methods of drawing crowds, entertainment, extra-biblical revelations, mysticism, and some forms of psychological counseling all declare that the Bible and its precepts are not adequate for the Christian life. But Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me” (John 10:27). His voice is all we need to hear and the Scriptures are His voice, completely and utterly sufficient.