How to Obtain Truth. Being a Biblical Prospector!

• Psalms 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. KJV

The pursuit of truth that works requires that you become a spiritual prospector! If you don’t realize how deeply God wants you to have it you will give up in the search! Ps. 51:6 states that He desires for us to have truth in the innermost part of our being! Our desire for truth originates with seeing it is His desire for us! This may seem odd to you but God actually desires for you to demonstrate and possess truth in the very deepest sanctum of your heart. He wants His human creation, made in His likeness, to know the truth about His ways, His Word, His character and His wisdom. This includes how we practically live these things out! The question is: How do we pursue His truth and embrace it in our human spirit?

Recognize the real thing!

I have to admit it. I enjoy Coca Cola more than any other soft drink or cola beverage. It beats all the others hands down. Furthermore, if someone gives me a different cola, I know it immediately. My palate has a mind of it’s own. It resists all other colas. It’s the real thing. The same thing happens when I go after truth. I've become accustomed to the inward witness concerning what is and isn't truth. That doesn’t mean I can’t be fooled. I can! But I've learned that my taste for truth must be constantly fine tuned so that I recognize and acknowledge the real thing!

2 Tim 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth .KJV

According to 2 Tim. 2:24-25 truth can't be embraced if it isn’t first recognized and then acknowledged. Sadly, the modern of theory about truth is a far cry from God’s standpoint. Authentic truth is noted by the stability it produces in life, relationships, actions, emotions and more. It is essentially the core principles located in the foundations of anything to makes it steady. The acknowledgement of the truth that Paul wrote of to Timothy involves a form of discernment or recognition. This reveals that it will bear witness to your inner being as well as consequentially result in the permanent form of stability. Determining whether something is stable, or subsequently produces stability, seldom occurs instantly. It takes time to prove truth for what it is, although the inward witness invariably confirms it.

Choose which path you will walk when pursuing it!

                                               

Psalms 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. KJV

As you begin to dig into the Scriptures, you’ll have to make an important choice. You must decide whether you'll choose the ancient way, or path, of God’s form of truth or the less secure human forms of so-called truth. If you’re a person driven by emotion or experience this decision can be quite stressful. Without a doubt, feelings and experience may be real, but their fleeting nature is not always truth. You must decide which path you will walk. This choice is actuated through prayer. We’ll talk about that more later!

Paying the price you need to pay?

Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. KJV

On this journey for truth there will be many costs and investments. Time, prayer, lack of sleep, wrestling and searching will be required of you. Once having acknowledged truth you’ll need to determine its value. Who will you share it with, if anyone? Are they willing to pay the same price you paid to cherish it?

Seek the help of the Lord in the Fear of the Lord

Psalms 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. KJV

I believe that there is no more dangerous opponent to genuine Bible study than intellectual and spiritual presumption. Approaching any biblical subject with a preconceived idea of “I know it all” cancels out any hope of growth and prevents the discovery of genuine truth. It’s really the attitude that creates the problem. God is the author of truth and as we respectfully fear Him we request His leading and assistance to learn. The Psalmist asks the Lord, “Teach me your way”. This “way” or “path” is the same path referring to the “way of truth” mentioned in Psalms 119:30. In order to discover truth we need God to teach us! This is why learning truth is directly linked to the fear of the Lord.  How does He teach us?

Psalms 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. KJV

First and foremost every student of the Bible needs the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

The Hebrew word translated as, “teach” in Psalms 25:5 is “lamad”. It can be rendered in a variety of ways but the picture this word paints is one of an ox goad poking an oxen along the furrow as it plows or pulls a cart. In essence we need God to goad us forward and His doing so keeps us in the straight and narrow way. The practical application of this is simple. As your human spirit is increasingly sensitized to the corrective ways of the Spirit, the moment you sense an uncomfortable prompting, an uneasy nudging in your spirit, always take note of it. Most probably it's the goading of the Lord restraining you for thinking a certain way, or for delving into areas of study that you’re not either ready for or is incorrect. He pokes us into the direction we need to go.                    

Secondly He teaches us in a manner that points out the way, like a finger pointing in a certain direction, or an arrow aimed toward a certain target. The discerning heart recognizes the prompting and looks toward the direction of He is focusing on. The Hebrew word “Yarah” means to point in a certain direction, like an arrow aiming.   Ps. 86:11 (See Above)

MERCY/ GRACE MUST LEAD  

A thorough biblical study on truth will reveal that truth is seldom achieved and successfully ministered without mercy and grace going in advance of it. The reason being is that in your search for truth for any subject of the Scriptures, truth can become a dagger and destructive if mercy doesn’t precede it. God’s word is a double-edged sword capable of penetrating the most impenetrable shell. Nonetheless, the unmerciful bearer of truth will become a destructive vessel no matter how charismatic or gifted. I’ve noticed that when truth becomes a passion without mercy opening the way then truth is a dagger and will nearly always do damage. In nearly every verse where truth is mentioned, mercy almost always precedes it. Why is this significant? Sin is rarely confronted by truth alone and it certainly will not be cleansed away unless mercy is involved in the introduction of truth to the human conscience. Mercy and grace pave the way for truth.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. KJV

Psalms 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. KJV

Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. KJV

                       
Cooperate with the Holy Spirit

1 Cor 2:9 But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. [Isa 64:4; 65:17.] 10 Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny]. 11 For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man's thoughts except the man's own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. 13 And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]. AMP

Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. KJV

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. KJV

We don’t only need the guidance of the Spirit when we study, but we also must learn how to be spiritually minded and cooperate with the Spirit to gain spiritual revelation.  A carnally minded individual approaches the Bible for the purpose of information, knowledge and a sense of superiority from the accumulation of such. Romans 8:5-8 warns that the carnal mind antagonistically opposes God and anything pertaining to the things of the Spirit. It only pays attention to what feeds it’s natural appetites. Sadly, the carnally minded believer seldom gains genuine spiritual revelation. 

The spiritually minded believer acts in the opposite manner of the carnal one. In fact, spiritual mindedness seeks how to best cooperate with the Holy Spirit. Obviously this means different things to different Christian circles and doctrine. Nonetheless, it should be stated that if carnality is present, argumentative debate inevidently erupts when dealing with the manifestations and ways of the Holy Spirit. For this reason, rather than incite contention, I believe it is necessary to be sensitive to the differences in the Church, while at the same time, not ignoring an interesting option concerning the revealing of truth found in 1 Corinthians 2:9-13. The Amplified transliteration of the Bible renders an interesting angle to another way we can cooperate with the Holy Spirit to gain truth if we’re open to it.

 1 Cor 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: KJV

As Paul aptly wrote, we have not received the spirit that belongs to the world, but we’ve received the Holy Spirit for the purpose of helping us to realize and value the gifts God has granted us. That Spirit is also identifed as the Spirit of Truth in John 16:13. Jesus said that the Spirit would guide us into all truth. This cannot be ignored. Of course this is only one of the reasons the Holy Spirit came. Furthermore, Paul goes on to explain, in 1 Corinthians 2:13 of the Amplified transliteration that those truths are brought into view not because of humanly taught languages and vocabulary, but because of the words that the Holy Spirit grants in a spiritual language that enables all who speak those words to grow in and interpret spiritual truth with. Difficult as this is for some to accept or make excuse for, and not to pressure anyone in that direction, these verses can only refer to the spiritual languages that Paul later explains as speaking in tongues. Take note in this same chapter that Paul states that he spoke the words the Holy Spirit inspires, not with or according to man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power. In verse 7 he went on to say that we are to speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom ordained before the world began. Now I know there could be much contestation over this issue. Nonetheless, it needs to be noted, for the sake of the charismatic and pentacostal Bible students, that one manner of tapping into the revelation of truth is speaking in a spiritual tongue. The mysterious shroud preventing the knowledge of necessary truths for any biblical subject matter can be exposed through cooperating with the Holy Spirit by speaking out those mysteries in spiritual languages so they may be understood in this life. Paul went on to say in verse 9 and 10 that humanity generally does not know the things God has prepared for them, however verse 10 explodes in revelation state that God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit. Isn’t it interesting that God doesn’t want His children to remain ignorant to His truths! Furthermore, one of the purposes for the spiritual languages granted by the Holy Spirit is so we might KNOW the things that He’s given us!!! We don’t have to be victims of intellectual constraint. Praying and speaking in the words the Holy Spirit teaches opens up a spiritual vault of wisdom and revelation necessary for walking in the truths God intended for the Church long ago and that cannot be achieved through mere human academics. Consider how Paul connects chapter two with chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians when he explains the purpose or result of speaking in tongues. He who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks mysteries. He said that the words of wisdom, contextually linked with the words the Holy Spirit teaches are part of the wisdom of God in a mystery. So for those who have ears to hear and are open to this possibility, speaking in an unknown tongue cooperates with the Holy Spirit to open up spiritual truths pertaining to what is needed for practical living.

1 Cor 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: KJV

1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. KJV

1 Cor. 2:12 Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. 13 And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit].

Search for it, but where?

Isaiah 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. KJV

    Jeremiah 5:1 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. KJV

Isaiah the prophet described the heart breaking reality of the condition of truth in his time, and sadly similar to today. Truth has fallen in the street. But, what does this mean? It doesn’t say truth had fallen in the temple, the synagogue or the church. It fell in the street! This poses some interesting ideas. The street, translated from the Hebrew word “rehob” refers to an avenue, an area, a broad place, a street or a plaza that was the center of enormous and varied activities. In ancient times, and still in some small villages, business and marketing was handled in this area. Entertainment of all sorts took place there. Judicial matters were discussed and resolved and some forms of education were even centered there. Therefore, to say truth has fallen in the streets is to associate it with each of those spheres of human activity. One would have to be blind to say that the business world, the educational systems, the entertainment industry and the world of law and justice hasn’t lost fundamental truths necessary to life. Jeremiah prophesied that to seek for truth, one first has to find where it fell in the broad places “rehob” or the spheres of business, education, entertainment and justice. The biblical study of truth isn’t complete without considering how God inspired truths and biblical practices have been weakened or decayed in those arenas. This means a thorough study of any subject, related to truths applicable to those arenas requires investigation in those spheres. This is no easy or small task. No one person can entirely deal with it. Therefore, when Jeremiah writes in chapter 5:1, he states that truth must be sought out. This search is drawn from the Hebrew word “Baqash”, according to various Lexical aids, describes it as a searching that incorporates worship, prayer and asking the right, important questions with diligent effort in any method necessary to find the truth. A hurried approach to this will result in failure and error. Therefore the student needs to dig into the roots of the language, the culture, the history and how God’s character is revealed. The more resource materials you can refer to the better. Just remember that no one book or resource will provide all the answers and will need to be scrutinized against the matters of context, language, history, culture, reason for the writing of the author, and other pertinent means of determining an accurate interpretation. This will take time and will also require diligence. 

Watch for other angles that truth may come through and confirm God’s Word.

On occasion God will use other means to communicate truth and confirm what’s discovered in your study of the Word.

Ps 89:1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. KJV

Psalms 145:4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. KJV

The significance of spiritual elders, fathers and mothers, and the previous generations carry a tremendous responsibility of passing on the wisdom of experience and revelation. This manifestation of truth, when it is genuinely truth, is an invaluable aid to younger, less experienced learners. One must keep one’s ears open to the possibility of this expression at all times because it often emerges at times least expected. There is a generational responsibility seldom acknowledged, and, even less frequently practiced. The younger, less seasoned believer desperately needs the wisdom of the previous generation concerning practical Christianity and truth. In addition to these, on rare occasions, God will exalt a leader capable of communicating truth to the head of nations, such as Daniel when speaking with Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel’s wisdom and understanding of truth capably advised the king at a time when issues needed to be addressed.  Dan. 2:47 Similarly people like Joseph, Esther, Moses and Nehemiah emerged with truth when God was on the verge of working in the people.

We can begin our pursuit if we keep these things in mind and press into the Lord to teach and guide us!