Leaning on our Own Understanding 0r Having the Ears to Hear

People may become offended when someone says, "don't you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?" It's a good question that requires an honest answer. I don't always understand what a person is talking about so I ask for clarification.

Jesus, Himself asked the same question.

"Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word." John 8:43

When I first began studying the scriptures, I can honestly say that I didn't understand certain principles. I'm also not afraid to say that I'm still learning. I would much rather gain truth by seeking it out in Christ, than to stunt my own growth by believing I know more than I do.

Jesus ministered to multitudes of people on several occasions. After He ministered, the disciples often to went to Him to ask, "What does this mean?" Even when Jesus told the disciples themselves a parable, they would often ask for the meaning of what was spoken.

And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? Luke 8:9

They knew that Jesus was the one who has the answers, and they went to him rather than forming their own idea of what something meant.

In fact, in John ch. 6 Jesus said:

This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. John 6:58

According to Strong's Concordance, the word "Manna," means:

4478 man mawn from 4100; literally, a whatness (so to speak), i.e. manna (so called from the question about it):--manna.

Asking Jesus for understanding, wisdom and knowledge. That is the living Manna. Jesus is the bread of life.

We can't just make it up as we go along. If we are in Christ Jesus, we must be like the disciples and go to Him for all our answers.

When Jesus spoke the words, "why do you not understand my speech?" He wasn't speaking to people who didn't have a natural ability to hear. They could hear Him as clearly as you can read this article. Yet, He asked them the question, and he answered it at the same time when he said, "even because you cannot hear My word."

Jesus didn't stop there though, He made it clear that not everyone can or will hear His voice, and His word tells us the reasons.

• Hardened Heart:

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: Hebrews 3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Hebrews 3:7-9

• Ignorance

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Ephesians 4:18

Hardness of heart is tied to not only not hearing God's word, but to ignorance.

The Apostle Paul clarified this when he said:

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Ephesians 4:18

It's never been the will of God that humankind wouldn't hear Him. Over and over again, with example after example, God's word tells us that it is because of the "hardness of our own hearts," that our ears are closed. When our hearts are hardened, and when we think too highly of ourselves, our hearts do not mesh well with God's will and we will not hear His voice through the written word, or the spoken word. God's truth is far greater and much higher than anything we can even begin to comprehend.

It doesn't matter if a person has crystal clear hearing with his or her natural ears. Nor does it matter is a person is physically deaf. God's word speaks to our spirit.

God's word is living. All a person has to do is look outside to see that there is a sky, (the heavens,) and there is an earth. When God said, "Let there be light, " there was light. God divided the light from the darkness. We can still witness His word at work with each sunrise, and with the moonlight that shines through the darkness of night.

The Bible is preserved and sustained;

God's word tells us that the Bible is preserved, yet some question the accuracy of the Bible. God has sustained creation by His word since it was first spoken, yet people question whether or not God can preserve and sustain paper with letters on it? Denying that God can sustain his word is quite simply, ignorant.

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Colossians 1:16

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. Psalms 12:6

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5

The book of Proverbs is an amazing book, the wisdom contained within it crosses into our natural existence here on this earth. Sayings from the book of Proverbs are often even used by non-believers.

The above passage says not only that we should trust in God with all our hearts, but we should not lean on our own understanding. Many of us already know that our own understanding if fallible. God's understanding is far greater than ours, even the most wise among us is foolish in comparison to the wisdom of God.

Having faith in God, means that His word should be trusted above all the opinions of man. When a person says, "believe me," and does not point us to the prayerful study of the scriptures in Christ Jesus, that very person is lifting him or herself above the wisdom of God.

Paul said:

And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 1 Corinthians 8:2

Even Philosophers of the world are known to say, "the more I think I know, the more I realize that I know nothing at all."

It's a humbling truth to realize that we really don't know anything at all, but it's a blessed assurance that God Himself will reveal His truth to us, as we seek Him in pure simplicity like little children. Just as Jesus said to do.

No matter how many human opinions there are now, and have always been in this world, it is better to trust in the LORD.

With careful research, author, Matt Slick has gone in-depth with his research that compares many well-known ancient documents and the accuracy contained in them to the Bible. The Bible wins on every count.

Looking at the actual historic evidence of the preservation of God's word, one would have to reject and deny all the other ancient writings listed in the chart above before he or she could even begin to attempt to claim error on the part of God's word.

Many argue that through the canonization of the bible, actual books were removed. The fact is, the Bible we have today already consisted of mainly all of the same books and only a few were left out based on there being no traces that led to the earliest Churches. Every other New Testament book that is contained in the Bible that we have today are the same books that the Earliest Christians studied.

Among the few books that were left out is the "book of Enoch." The issue with this book is not even a difficult one for anyone today to see.

The bible does make one mention of the "book of Enoch," but does that mean that the book that is circulating today is that actual book? A man by the name of Stephen wrote several contemporary books, and later another man with the same name, "Stephen," wrote several similar books. This does not mean that the books were written by the same man simply because they have the same first name.

The fact is, Enoch lived during a time when books were not written on paper or papyrus. In fact, the time frame in which the Biblical Enoch lived, the main expressionist writings were done in the form of pictorials, usually on stone. Cave-writings would be a great example of this.

The next issue is that Enoch was taken even before the great flood during the time of Noah. There is nothing that indicates that Noah had a "book of Enoch," tucked in his back pocket on the Ark as the entire earth was flooded and everything was destroyed.

The Biblical Timeline shows that Enoch’s existence is from 3384 BC to 3019 BC. Please take note that 3019 BC is not the death date of Enoch, but rather the last day / year he was seen on earth.

God is in complete control, and His control includes His written word. God is not the author of confusion. His word is so filled with hidden treasure that anyone who is seeking the truth through prayerful study, knows that there is no time for questionable books like the "book of Enoch."

I'll go with King David and say what he said:

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Psalms 118:8

And Peter when he said:

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:21