Obedience to Spiritual Leaders

God’s Word requires that everyone submit to those whom he has set in authority over them. In the civil
and legal realm, this includes civic rulers and governors together with judges, sheriffs, magistrates, and
other officers of the law. In the moral and spiritual realm, it includes pastors, elders, and deacons. In
this latter category, where the Holy Spirit has called and appointed these individuals to watch over the
souls of God’s people, they are responsible to God for feeding his flock, and for protecting that flock
from false teaching. In consideration of these things, God’s Word says:
Hebrews 13:17
(17) Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they
watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it
with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
1 Peter 5:2-4
(2) Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof,
not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
(3) Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the
flock. (4) And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a
crown of glory that fadeth not away. (See v.1)
The Holy Spirit Applies the Word
It is not the opinions of men upon which we must rely for a correct understanding of God’s ways and
will for our individual lives. Rather, it is the Holy Spirit of God. The Lord Jesus has given us the Holy
Spirit to seal us unto God and also to teach us and guide us into all truth. Thus, the Scripture says:
John 14:26
(26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in
my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13-15
(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 show you things to come. (14) He shall glorify
me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. (15) All things
that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine,
and shall show it unto you. (See also 1 Cor. 2:6-16)
But how can a believer come to know all the truth of God, if he or she does not spend time prayerfully
studying and meditating on the Word of God? How can the Holy Spirit guide a believer from God’s
Word, if he or she does not make regular use of the appointed means of grace? In this instance, the
means of grace are the public preaching and teaching of the Word of God, and the private daily
searching of the Scriptures for ourselves. Thus, God’s Word says:
Bible Truths Explained: The Divine Inspiration of The Bible
BTE01: The Divine Inspiration of The Bible 36 1.1.05
Acts 2:42
(42) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,
and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 17:11
(11) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received
the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily,
whether those things were so.
1 Timothy 4:13
(13) Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1 Timothy 4:16
(16) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing
this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
The Bible is the sole source of food for the believer’s soul, and of light for his life. Each one of God’s
redeemed children needs to spend time listening to the teaching of God’s Word. Each son or daughter
of God also needs to study and meditate upon that Word, privately and prayerfully.
Deuteronomy 32:45-47
(45) And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel: (46) And
he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify
among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to
do, all the words of this law. (47) For it is not a vain thing for you; because it
is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land,
whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.
The Holy Spirit Applies the Word (Scripture References)
The Holy Spirit is the one who imparts life to the soul through the reading of God’s Word. It is by this
means also that the Spirit of God carries out the ongoing work of sanctification. Apart from the spiritually
energising work and illuminating power of God’s Spirit, we would not be able to comprehend the
significance of God’s Word or understand its spiritual truths. Thus, we must seek to read the Word of
God prayerfully—and this is essential—and with the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Concerning the essential work of the Holy Spirit in understanding and applying God’s Word, the Scriptures
say:
John 6:63-64a
(63) It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I
speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (64a) But there are some
of you that believe not…
Bible Truths Explained: The Divine Inspiration of The Bible
BTE01: The Divine Inspiration of The Bible 37 1.1.05
2 Corinthians 3:5-6
(5) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves;
but our sufficiency is of God; (6) Who also hath made us able ministers of
the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth,
but the spirit giveth life. (See vv.1-18)
1 Corinthians 2:9-16
(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. {Isaiah 64:4} (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. (14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the
Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned. (15) But he that is spiritual
judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
(16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?
{Isaiah 40:13}
But we have the mind of Christ. (See vv.1-8)
Defending the Truth against False Teaching
We, who by God’s grace know the truth, must hold steadfastly to the truth. Many people will attempt to
discredit God’s Word. Often, this is because they do not want God’s Word to condemn their sinful
deeds, or to remind them that they are living under God’s wrath and will yet face his final judgment.
Thus, we must hold fast to the truth. With much love and concern for the lost, we must present the
truth to them in all its living power. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we must feed the unadulterated truth
of God’s Word to his own people. Only then will the church and people of God be properly equipped to
grow in the faith, and to defend themselves against the enemy and against false teaching. For these
and other reasons, God’s Word says:
1 John 2:20
(20) But ye have an unction [anointing] from the Holy One, and ye know all
things. (See vv.18-25)
1 John 2:26-27
(26) These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. (27)
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye
need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you
of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye
shall abide in him.
2 Timothy 2:14-18a
Bible Truths Explained: The Divine Inspiration of The Bible
BTE01: The Divine Inspiration of The Bible 38 1.1.05
(14) Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord
that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the
hearers.
(15) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (16) But shun profane and
vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. (17) And their
word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; (18a)
Who concerning the truth have erred…
2 John 1:9-11
(9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath
not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father
and the Son. (10) If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine,
receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed: (11) For he that
biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds. (See vv.7-8)
Epilogue
In studying these notes on the divine inspiration of the Bible, we have now completed our introductory
study to the series, Bible Truths Explained. We have laid our foundation for these studies on God’s
eternal and infallible Word, the Bible. Each of the Bible Truths Explained subjects that follow this introduction
will consider one of the major Bible truths or doctrines. This will include the Bible’s teaching on
such subjects as the fall of man, sin, predestination, repentance, faith, regeneration, justification, sanctification,
and many more (although not necessarily in this order). We hope that you will follow these
subsequent studies of these most precious and foundational truths, and that by so doing God will bless
you richly through your prayerful and careful searching of his eternal living Word.
May God continue to bless you in your work and service for him, and may you yourselves be a great
blessing to others as you seek to bring them into contact with the truths of God’s Word.
Let us, then, depend on God, and on his Son, Jesus Christ. He will provide for our every need. Let us
live by the Spirit; faithfully bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit. Then, we will experience the power of the
Lord in our lives; together with that sorrow or persecution to which the Lord has called us. To God be
the glory for what he has done!
Jude 1:24-25
(24) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you
faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the
only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power,
both now and ever. Amen.