The Process Of Inspiration
Concerning the verbal inspiration of the Bible, Paul Enns writes:
Peter . . . acknowledges his belief in verbal inspiration inasmuch as it was the Holy Spirit who guided the writers of Scripture in their selection of words. This truth could be illustrated by a man who goes to the department store in a shopping center. Because he is in a hurry to get to the second floor he walks up the escalator. Although he is walking, the escalator is carrying him along, bringing him to the second floor.
Mr. Enns concludes:
Similarly, although the writers of Scripture penned the words according to their educational abilities and their own distinctive styles, the Holy Spirit was carrying them along, ensuring the accuracy of all they were writing.
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV).
"And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:19-21, NKJV).
Full But Not Fulfilled
The Huffington Post reports:
You’ve just eaten 10 Taco Bell tacos and drank a frozen Mountain Dew and you still feel suspiciously hungry. You’ve consumed about 1,880 calories, but your body isn’t satisfied. What’s happening?
Studies show that satiety, the mechanism that stops us from eating more than what we need, has less to do with caloric intake than it does with the intake of certain macronutrients - types of protein, carbohydrates, and fat - and the physical volume of food. We’re getting plenty of calories when we eat a full sleeve of Oreos, but we’re not getting the nutrients that our bodies need for high quality, sustainable energy. Even though it may feel like a large volume of food, it moves through us quickly - meaning the feeling of fullness fades after we eat.
They continue:
The satiety level of a food is partially due to its nutrient density, which refers to the ratio of nutrients to calories. Though highly caloric, junk foods supply a much lower amount of nutrients compared to the volume of food. In other words, all calories aren’t created equal. For 100 calories, we can eat about 15 cups of spinach or two Oreos. The spinach will physically fill our stomachs with more food, plus provide dietary fiber and vital nutrients. The Oreos, on the other hand, provide little more than intense levels of simple carbohydrates, which give us quick bursts of energy that don’t last.
Desiring less than Jesus’ righteousness results in being unfulfilled.
If we are hurting deep in our belly for Jesus’ presence and guidance, we are on the right path, feeling an intense longing … wanting Jesus’ righteousness as much as a starving person wants food and a parched person wants clean water to drink. Those who have that desire have the promise to be filled. It’s an emptiness which opens us to the filling of the Holy Spirit.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6, NIV).
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).
"My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work" (John 4:34, NLT).
Ascend the Mountain with Jesus
Denver, Colorado is 5,276 feet above sea level, hence the nickname “Mile High City.”
The altitude there has been credited and blamed for the effects it has on unaware or unprepared visitors from lower elevations. People feel the effects of lower air pressure and decreased oxygen when they arrive; the same goes for visiting athletes.
Sure, they’re better conditioned than Joe or Jane Average, but they’re drawing more on the thin air in their competitive exertions. Many, if they’re honest, have stories to tell about needing rather quickly to find their second wind and taking a few days to acclimate enough that their performances don’t suffer.
Such teams as the Nuggets, Avalanche, Broncos, and Rockies actually employ marketing schemes to plant seeds doubt in visiting teams, amplifying the disadvantages posed to those athletes who are not properly altitude trained. For example, at Ball Arena, there is signage where visiting teams enter and exit noting the city’s altitude. The numbers 5,280 are printed right on the court, near each free-throw line. The video board during introductions welcomes the road team with an ominous warning about the difficulty in catching one’s breath. Then, there are large, hazard-orange-and-black placards on display (“Attention: Altitude Warning/Low Oxygen”).
In fact, the intimidating marketing is right there in the name ... "Empower Field" at "Mile High Stadium"!
In response, we often see oxygen tanks used on the visiting teams’ sidelines to help them try to catch their breath.
There is a whole school of athletic training based on high-altitude workouts. Olympic athletes routinely seek out facilities in Denver and Colorado Springs to boost their oxygen efficiency, and countless trainers and gyms simulate the effects with dedicated breathing equipment.
In Matthew 5, we see the Lord ascend up the mountainside to preach his most famous, and frankly, one of his most challenging sermons — aptly named the Sermon on the Mount. He wasn't bringing a milquetoast message of "peace, love, and hippy beads." No, he was bringing a challenging message of radical transformation which was not for the faint of heart and would require spiritual training and preparedness.
The disciples went up the mountain with Jesus. To go up the mountain is to risk one’s balance: our ears might pop; we might get dizzy; we might trip. We might hear something we cannot handle. Making the climb is the first step, and it is already a commitment. Staying on the summit and realizing we could do even more requires more courage, and letting that experience transform us, transfigure us, can be scarier still. But the effort is worthwhile. The vista is gorgeous.
To receive this kind of message we must spiritually train to make the best use of the "air" up there — Jesus' words of truth and life. Afterall, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV).