VII.

THE SYMBOLS OF THE SCRIPTURES

Many times the Bible uses symbolic language in order to teach. Often spiritual truth can be
conveyed more realistically by the employment of symbols, which bring a picture to the human
mind. Thus, there are a number of symbols used throughout the Scripture for this purpose. We
list those which are most apparent.

A. A Mirror.
"For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his
natural face in a mirror . . ." (Jas. 1:23-25 NASB). This illustrates the revealing power of the
Word.
B. A Critic.
"For the word of God . is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12).
"The Greek of Heb. 4:12 reads, "The Word of God is.. a critic of the thoughts and intents of
the heart."
C. Seed.
"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the word of God, which
liveth and abideth forever" (1 Pt. 1:23). "The seed is the word of God"; Is. 55:10,11; Jas.
1:18.) This symbol suggests the generative power of the Word. It is a
life-giving Word.

D. Laver and Water.

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word ..." (Eph.
5:26). "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood" (Rev. 1:5b).
(Also: Ps. 119:9; Jn. 15:3.) The laver stood between the worshipper and the tabernacle,
providing a means of cleansing. The same Word that reveals one's defilement, also
provides a means of cleansing.

E. A Lamp and Light.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Ps. 119:105)."For the
commandment is a lamp; and the law is light..." (Prv. 6:23). These symbols speak of the
illuminating, guiding influence of the Word in a darkened world. The Word is that ". . .
more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that
shineth in a dark place" (2 Pt. 1:19).
F. A Fire.
"Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord ...." (Jer. 23:29); "Then I said, I will not make
mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a
burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay"
(Jer. 20:9). As the word "fire" is used here it seems to suggest a consuming impulse and
 energy. "My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with
my tongue" (Ps. 39:3).

G. A Hammer.
"Is not my word like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" (Jer. 23:29). This figure
suggests the power of the Word, constantly applied, that will eventually break the heart
that is as hard as a rock.

H. A Sword.
"And take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17). "For the word of
God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword. . . ." (Heb. 4:12). This is
the believer's one offensive weapon in his contest with the "principalities" and "powers"
and "rulers of the darkness of this world... [and] spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph.
6:12).

I. Food.
"I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food" (Jb. 23:12b).

1. Milk. "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby..."
(1 Pt. 2:2). (See 1 Cor. 3:1,2).
2. Bread. "... Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the
mouth of God" (Mt. 4:4).
3. Meat.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which
be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and
not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness:
for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by
reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Heb. 5:12-14).
4. Honey. "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"
(Ps. 119:103).

VIII. THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE SCRIPTURES

Inspiration accounts for inerrancy, and inerrancy proves inspiration. This miracle of infallible
inspiration is said to be the ministry of the Holy Spirit This might well be the very greatest
ministry in which the Spirit is engaged All Spirit-filled believers have known, to some degree,
the miracle of Divine inspiration by the Holy Spirit, but never to the extent experienced by the
writers of Scripture
The Pentecostal Movement has been accused of being an experience- centered movement, and
indeed it is! But it is also a Bible-centered movement. It is beautiful to see how the Holy
Spirit and the written Word are always in perfect agreement. This must be so, because the
Word is the result of the inspiration of the Spirit. The following list of references, where the
Holy Spirit and the Word are mentioned together, illustrate the importance of recognizing
the ministry of both the Spirit and the Word, and demonstrate the harmony between the
Word and the Spirit:

2 Samuel 23:2 The SPIRIT of the Lord spoke by me and His WORD was in my tongue.
Proverbs 1:23 I will pour out my SPIRIT unto you, I will make known my WORDS unto you.
Isaiah 40:7,8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the SPIRIT of the Lord bloweth
upon it... The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the WORD of our God shall stand
forever.
Isaiah 59:21 My SPIRIT that is upon thee, and my WORDS which I have put in the mouth, shall
not depart out of thy mouth. Zechariah 4:6 This is the WORD of the Lord not by might, nor
by power, but by My SPIRIT saith the Lord. Matthew 22:29 Ye do err, not knowing the
SCRIPTURES, nor POWER of God.
Mark 16:20 Confirming the WORD with SIGNS following.
Luke 12:12 The HOLY GHOST shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to SAY.
John 3:34 He speaketh the WORDS of God: for God giveth not the SPIRIT by measure unto Him.
John 6:63 It is the SPIRIT that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the WORDS that I
speak,... they are SPIRIT, and they are life.
John 14:26 The HOLY GHOST,... shall... bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have
SAID unto you.
Acts 1:16 SCRIPTURE must needs have been fulfilled, which the HOLY GHOST by the mouth of
David spake.
Acts 4:31 They were all filled with the HOLY GHOST, and they spake the WORD of God with
boldness.
Acts 6:10 They were not able to resist the wisdom and the SPIRIT by which he SPAKE.aa
Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these WORDS, the HOLY GHOST fell on them.
Acts 10:37,38 The WORD which was published throughout all Judea how God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the HOLY GHOST.
Acts 11:15 As I began to SPEAK, the HOLY GHOST fell on them.
Acts 11:16 Then remembered I the WORD of the Lord ye shall be baptized with the HOLY
GHOST.
Acts 13:4,5 Being sent forth by the HOLY GHOST preached the WORD of God. ne grisic009
Acts 15:7,8 That the Gentiles... should hear the WORD... giving them the HOLY GHOST. o Tha
Acts 16:6 They. ... were forbidden of the HOLY GHOST to preach
the WORD in Asia.
Acts 18:25 Being fervent in the SPIRIT, he SPAKE and TAUGHT diligently.
Acts 28:25 Paul had spoken one WORD, Well spake the HOLY GHOST by Isaiah
Romans 15:18,19 To make the Gentiles obedient by WORD and deed through mighty signs and
wonders by the power of the SPIRIT of God.
1 Corinthians 2:13 We speak the WORDS which the HOLY GHOST teacheth.
1 Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given by the SPIRIT the WORD of wisdom.
1 Corinthians 12:8 To another the WORD of knowledge, by the same SPIRIT.dorot llens T20HO Y
2 Corinthians 6:7 By the WORD of truth, by the POWER of God.
Ephesians 1:13 After that ye heard the WORD of truth.sealed with that HOLY SPIRIT of promise.
Ephesians 6:17 The sword of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD ofGod.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 Our Gospel came not unto you in WORD only,but also in power, and in the
HOLY GHOST.
1 Thessalonians 1:6 Received the WORD in much affliction, with joy in the HOLY GHOST.
1 Timothy 4:12 Be thou an example of the believers in WORD. . in SPIRIT
Hebrew 2:3,4 First began to be SPOKEN with gifts of the HOLY GHOST. God bearing witness
Hebrews 6:4,5 Partakers of the HOLY GHOST, and have tasted the good WORD of God.
1 Peter 1:12 That have preached the GOSPEL unto you with the HOLY GHOST.
2 Peter 1:21 The prophecy came not . men of God SPAKE as they were moved by the HOLY
GHOST.
1 John 5:7 There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the WORD, and the HOLY
GHOST.

If any people should be people of the Word of God, it should be those who believe in the
Pentecostal Baptism with the Holy Spirit. They have an inspirational ministry. They believe in
prophecy, in speaking with other tongues with interpretation, in inspirational revelations. How
can one tell if these come from God or not Just because one claims to have a revelation from
the Lord does not mean it should be accepted as if it was from God There needs to be a norm, a
final court of appeal, by which all manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit can be judged. In fact,
the Scripture admonishes the judging of all prophecy, which Paul recognizes as perhaps the
greatest of the gifts. "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge" (1 Cor.
14:29). "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because
there is no light in them" (Is. 8:20 There is such a "court of appeal" to which one can come. It is
the written Word, which the Holy Spirit inspired. Peter calls it "a more sure word of prophecy;
whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as a light that shineth in a dark place" (2 Pt. 1:19).
Those who minister, in any capacity whatever, are never so fully "in the Spirit" as when they are
doing so in full accord with the clearly revealed teaching of the Bible, the Word of God. "He that
hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches," is an admonition which is
given seven (7) times in the book of Revelation (2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22) and each time it
follows a written epistle from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.