SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!
By David J. Stewart
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." -John 5:39
What a wonderful statement from the Lord... SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES! Oh! That men would search the Scriptures instead of following other men. We are told in Psalm 118:8, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." The biggest mistake you'll ever make in this lifetime is to put your trust in man. Everywhere we turn nowadays, we are bombarded with so-called "Christian" books, magazines, commentaries, radio shows, TV programs, and self-help kits. What we need to do is SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!
Jesus said... SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES! Why? ...because they TESTIFY of Jesus Christ. We read in Revelation 19:10, "...for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." The purpose of Biblical prophecy is to reveal more of Jesus Christ to us; hence, to study the Bible is to learn the mind of God. Philippians 2:5 states, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Revelation 19:13 says, "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God." Jesus is the Living Word, and the Bible is the Written Word. They are synonymous. Thus, to search the Scriptures is to learn of Jesus. The answer to your problems my friend are in the SCRIPTURES!
One phrase that you'll NEVER hear in a Catholic Church is SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES, because the priests don't want anyone to read the Bible and find out what a bunch of LIARS they are. No priest can forgive sin. If people would only SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES as Jesus commanded--the greedy televangelists would go out of business, false doctrines would cease, cults would disband, churches would go soulwinning, and false bibles would be rooted out and eradicated. Oh! That people would search the Scriptures. Let it be told far and near... SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!
Are you tired? ...SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES! Are you depressed ...SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES! Are you afraid ...SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES! Are you angry? ...SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES! Do you have a major life's decision to make? ...SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES! Are you confused? ...SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES! SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES! SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES! Oh! Let it be proclaimed to this generation of weak-kneed believers ... SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!
Where are the Billy Sundays today, who will preach uncompromisingly against sin, and teach people to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!? America doesn't need anymore ear-ticklin', back-scratchin', penny-pinchin', nickel-nippin', soft-soap, compromising, pink-tea and lemonade type sissy preachers. No sir! What America desperately needs today is old-fashioned, Bible-believin', people-lovin', barn-stormin', window-rattlin', shingle-pullin', narrow-minded, Hell-fire and damnation, separated, soulwinning, preachers who aren't afraid to speak the truth!!! SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!
Everyday in America, tens-of-millions of people search the daily newspapers; but they never open the Word of God. Millions of people are desperately searching for answers in magazines and books. The astrologers are searching the stars for answers. Talk show hosts, like Oprah Winfrey, are searching New Age occultism for answers. Millions of people are foolishly searching for answers through demon-inspired psychic mediums like John Edward, Char Margolis, and James Van Praagh. Evolutionists are still searching for the missing link, because it doesn't exist. Societies' "experts" are frantically researching the human brain for answers, but there are none. Everyone is searching in the wrong place, because Jesus said... SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!
It was king David, in Psalm 1:1-4, who said... "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away." The Scriptures will make us strong in the Lord, like a healthy tree planted by nourishing waters. Conversely, those believers who neglect the Scriptures will become malnourished, sick, and even go into a spiritual coma. The ungodly, who despise God's Word, will wither away into Hell (Psalm 9:17). Oh! That men would search the Scriptures!
What a life-changing statement from the Lord Jesus Christ... SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!