The Providence of Plymouth

Posted: November 23, 2011 in Citizenship, Educational
Tags: , , , , , ,
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The Church of England was an outgrowth of the Catholic Church. Henry VIII wanted a divorce and the Pope would not grant one. So Henry divorced the church instead and instituted the Church of England with him at its head. The rest was easy.

The Act of Supremacy (1534) declared that the king was “the only Supreme Head in Earth of the Church of England.” However, the essential doctrines remained the same as well as the persecution of supposed “heretics.”

Not only did the underground opposition of Anabaptist groups continue but there were also groups within the Church of England that grew discontent. However, they differed on how to address their concerns. Those who favored reform from within came to be known as Puritans. Their goal was to purify the church. Others believed that the Church of England was too far gone and could never be purified. They chose to separate themselves earning the name “Separatists.”

The Pilgrims subscribed to Separatist thought and suffered persecution as a result. Their faith was outlawed and they were forced to worship in secret in the home of William Brewster in Scrooby, England. These were no passive believers. They covenanted together to maintain the purity of the gospel at all costs, even their lives.

Eventually, the persecution grew so great that they were forced to seek freedom to worship elsewhere. Their first endeavor was to Holland. They were initially betrayed by those hired to transport them. The men were captured and imprisoned. Upon release they quickly fled to Holland to join their wives.

The freedom of Holland, however, presented other challenges. Wordliness and licentiousness abounded where “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” They feared that the forwardness and blatant carnality would be found irresistibly appealing to their youth and so the search began for another opportunity.

Word of the Jamestown settlement in Virginia had caught their attention. They decided that the church would make this journey across the sea with an endeavor to spread their Christian faith. Listen to William Brewster express their passion.

“[A] great hope and inward zeal they had of laying some good foundation, or at least to make some way thereunto, for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world; yea, though they should be but even as stepping-stones unto others for the performing of so great a work.”

The Pilgrims secured two ships to make the voyage: The Speedwell and the Mayflower, which normally carried wine. They hired a crew sympathetic to their cause but not of their faith.  They took to calling them Strangers based on the same Scripture that induced them to claim the name Pilgrims.

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 2:11-12

Only 102 of the 500 pilgrims were engaged in this first trip. Before the initial congregation left, Pastor John Robison preached a message entitled The Great Works of Christ in America. The text he used was Ezra 8:21. “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.”

Today this message on board the Speedwell is memorialized by a large painting in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol. Unfortunately, the Speedwell proved not to be seaworthy and they were forced to return to England. Some of the passengers remained behind while other joined the already crowded Mayflower.

The name of” Jesus Christ” is clearly seen in the Bible as is the phrase “God with us” on the sail. The rainbow harkens back to Noah’s family being delivered in the ark and the promise of God. Keep in mind that this portrait resides in the rotunda of the Capitol building as a monument to our history in a nation that some say has no Christian heritage.

The Pilgrims took to singing Psalms during this tumultuous voyage bringing the comfort of their Creator to their hearts. While this encouraged the saints it repulsed the sinners. One of the ship’s crew regularly cursed the “Psalm-singing” fanatics, looking forward to tossing their corpses overboard as they succumbed to the routine illnesses and death that accompanied most voyages of this type. However, God’s  providence proved too much for this Stranger. Listen to Bradford’s account.

“[H]e would always to contemning the poor people in their sickness and cursing them daily with grievous execrations…But it pleased God before they came half seas over, to smite this man with a grievous disease, of which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himself the first that was thrown overboard.”

In fact, he was the only one buried at sea. In God’s divine providence, the spilling of wine was frequent in the Mayflower during her normal voyages. The wine penetrated the beams of the ship acting as a natural disinfectant preventing the spread of disease!

“And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?” Luke 18:7

“And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” Mark 9:42

This wasn’t God’s only act of providence. Contrary winds pushed the Mayflower of course. Her eventual landing was much farther north by around 600 miles. They were in a predicament. There was no governing body. They had no charter from England or any other sovereign nation. There were rumors of some of the Strangers plotting to strike out on their own. This would have been devastating since each person, including the Strangers, was selected for their unique skills. The survival of the whole depended on the cooperation of the whole.

The only solution was to draft a self-governing document. It was modeled after their church covenant but committing them to a civil government. Before the passengers of the Mayflower ever disembarked, the first self-governing document of the New World was signed into law on November 11, 1620 and would later serve as the cornerstone of the Constitution of the United States.

The Mayflower Compact

Listen to the Mayflower Compact Online

In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are under-written, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November, in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.

John Carver
William Bradford
Edward Winslow
William Brewster
Isaac Allerton
Miles Standish
John Alden
Samuel Fuller
Christopher Martin
William Mullins		 William White
James Chilton
John Craxton
John Billington
Richard Warren
John Howland
Steven Hopkins
Edward Tilly
John Tilly
Francis Cook		 Thomas Rogers
Thomas Tinker
John Rigdale
Edward Fuller
John Turner
Francis Eaton
Moses Fletcher
Digery Priest
Thomas Williams
Gilbert Winslow		 Edmond Margeson
Peter Brown
Richard Bitteridge
Richard Clark
Richard Gardiner
John Allerton
Thomas English
Edward Doten
Edward Liester
John Goodman
George Soule

Providence was still revealing itself after the Pilgrims landed. The first Winter was harsh and many perished. Only four families were untouched by death that winter. However, by the time Spring arrived they had discovered an unexpected blessing. The land had been cleared and the fields cultivated but the region was largely unpopulated. It was as though God had prepared it for them.

Indeed, He had. Prior to their arrival, this territory had been inhabited by a ferocious tribe of hostile Indians. They had captured and tortured a French fisherman who had been on an expedition in their coasts. They were relentless in their torment and mocking.

The Frenchman at last warned them that God was angry and would destroy them for their wickedness.  Furthermore, he prophesied that God would replace them with another nation that was more pleasing to Him. The defiant Indians refused to believe that God could kill them. Yet by the time the Pilgrims arrived a terrible plague had left their unburied corpses scattered across the land.

Not all the Indians of that territory were so savage. The Pilgrims continued to experience God’s providence by providing an Indian named Squanto who had mastered the English language. Squanto had been captured and transported to England as a slave. However, in God’s providence he had been set free and returned to his native land shortly before the Pilgrims arrival, finding that his servitude had preserved his life.

Squanto befriended the Pilgrims, taught them how to survive in this land and served as an interpreter between them and other Indian tribes.  William Bradford wrote, “Squanto continued with them and was their interpreter and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation.”

The Christian convictions of the Pilgrims led them to peaceful interaction with the Indians. They had not come to conquer or steal. The sign a peace treaty with them during their very first year and it was honored for the next fifty-five.

God’s providence had simply become a way of life for the Pilgrims. Their very first harvest was in danger of failing. Drought was threatening their survival. But God had not brought them all this way to see them perish. He had not provided readymade fields for a meager harvest. A day of prayer and fasting was called for which produced a splendid result. I miraculous rain refreshed their crops and served as a testimony of God’s power to the Indians. One of them observed, “Now I see that the Englishman’s God is a good God; for he hath heard you, and sent you rain, and that without such tempest and thunder as we used to have with our rain; which after our Powwowing for it, breaks down the corn; whereas your corn stands whole and good still; surely, your God is a good God.”

Surely they were accomplishing the purpose of glorifying God and advancing the Christian faith as expressed in their Mayflower Compact! This called for a special celebration: a day of thanksgiving to God by both the Pilgrims and their Indian friends in recognition of God’s special and bountiful provision.

Bible Study Tip # 12 – Literally

Posted: September 6, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Literally

Study your Bible literally.

Why are there so many different interpretations of the Bible? Why are there so many opinions? Why are there so many controversies over what the Bible means? Why do we have so many denominations, faiths and sects within Christianity?

Confusion and delusion are the result of failing to accept the Bible at face value. People look for mystical meanings and hidden agendas in the Bible. In order to seem wiser and more spiritual than anyone else, they read in between the lines attempting to discover what no one else has found. They allegorize and spiritualize until they are mesmerized and hypnotized with some fanciful teaching that has no concrete basis in the Bible.

Jesus said, “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil,” (Matthew5:37). I’m inclined to believe that our Lord would practice what He preached. I think God knew what He intended to say and said it. He said it plainly. He wrote it accurately. That does not take away from the complexity or the depth of great Bible truths. It simply means that with careful study, accepting the Scriptures literally, you can come to the authentic meaning and reliable interpretation of the Bible.

Beware of those teachers who would tickle your ears with their individual interpretations that replace literal interpretation with complicated allegorizations and metaphors.  Bible teachers who claim to have special, exclusive revelations from God are simply false prophets. God’s revelation is in His Word and available to all.

 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” 2 Peter  1:20

God’s Word is knowable. John said that he wrote “that ye may know” (1 John 5:13). Paul sent Tychicus with a letter to Ephesus “that ye might know,” (Ephesians 6:22). Luke wrote both a Gospel that bears his name and the historical account of the book of Acts to a real person, Theophilus to inform him. The Books of Moses (Genesis – Deuteronomy) were written to instruct Israel. The historical books of the Old Testament were living histories. All sixty-six books of the Bible were written to be read and understood by their contemporaries. People wrote, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to be understood.

Since they wrote to be understood, they wrote in a manner that people would understand. A good journalist doesn’t write to conceal but to reveal the facts.  Authors are passionate about communication not confusion.  The Author of Scripture, the Holy Ghost, was not on a mission separate man from truth but rather to educate man through God’s Word.  This is why 2 Timothy 3 16-17 tells us that God’s Word is profitable.

“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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

God’s Word will always be supernatural but it can still be understandable. Though it is knowable there will always be more to be known. While the Scriptures will always be an inexhaustible fountain of truth we can still drink from them and be refreshed every day. Though a mystery, they are a mystery revealed.

Paul writes to young Timothy to give him understanding. His advice does not include any mystical practices or searches for special revelation. Paul’s counsel is very simple: study.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

Timothy was to be diligent and labour in the Word.  The proper understanding, interpretation or division of the word is simply the result of study not mysticism or allegorization. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul commends Pastors who labour in the Word.

“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.” 1 Timothy 5:7

Paul is emphasizing to Timothy the importance of the Word itself. He wasn’t teaching Timothy to seek out visions. Timothy wasn’t instructed to look beyond the text or look for hidden meanings.  There was never any admonition to spiritualize and allegorize. He just said to labour in and study the Word.

Jesus taught us that the words themselves were important. He didn’t even suggest the value of the thoughts over the words. He said the very words were important. He didn’t suggest reading between the lines. He didn’t say to go beyond the literal meaning. He didn’t say to discard to plain meaning for a mystical one. Listen for yourself as the Saviour speaks.

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew  4:4

Jesus is simply saying “Take God’s Word at face value and live by it.”

Peter had strong words for those who would impose anything but a literal meaning on God’s Word. He accused them of wrestling with the Scriptures. They would twist and bend the Scriptures like a pretzel until they could make them appear to say the very opposite of what they truly said.

“As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” 2 Peter 3:16

When the Lord looks down upon some of the concoctions mankind has forced upon His Word, He must shake His head in amazement. Imagine His frustration when He has given us His plain and simple Word and we look right past it for some fanciful meaning. He must often feel like David when he wrote Psalm 56:5.

“Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.” Psalm 56:5.

Now that we understand the Scriptural mandate for a literal interpretation, we should clarify just what that means. Doesn’t the Bible use figures of speech? Are there any metaphors or similes? What about all of the symbolism in Revelation and other parts of the Bible?

These are excellent questions that a sincere student of the Scriptures might ask. They are also pejorative criticisms of those who favor a more loose style of biblical interpretation. You should distinguish between a literal interpretation and an ultra-literal interpretation.

A literal interpretation of Scripture simply means that you should read it just as you would any other piece of literature. You should interpret it just as the first century readers would have. Do you think Timothy would have looked for some fanciful, hidden meaning when Paul wrote “Preach the Word?” How would Theophilus have read passage about the rich man in hell (Luke 16)? What did Moses and the Children of Israel understand the meaning of the Ten Commandments to be?

When you read the Bible look for the historical, grammatical, normal, plain meaning of the text. When that makes sense, you don’t have to look for anything else. You may not like what that means but that doesn’t give you permission to allegorize.  The Scriptures teach of a real and literal place called hell and the Lake of Fire. Many people allegorize this because they don’t like it. However, they have no other reason to deny it. The plain speech of the Bible declares that it is so repeatedly and in many ways.

But consider other passages that might require a little more discernment. John the Baptist calls attention to Jesus as “the Lamb of God.” Jesus calls Himself the “door.” He refers to the elements of                                   communion as His blood and His body. A literal interpretation allows for these figures of speech. No one supposes that Jesus literally showed up looking like a white, wooly creature bleating along the way. Neither do we suppose that He presented Himself as a piece of wood upon hinges. The readers of the day would not have made these assumptions. Neither did they suppose that Jesus calls us to cannibalism.

Prophetic passages present the most abundant use of figures of speech. However, they are clearly introduced with phases such as: “as it were” and “like unto.” A discerning reader considers the complete context and realizes when and where figures of speech are clearly used and when they are not.

If you want to get the most out of your Bible reading, simply accept the Bible at face value. This is the only method of interpretation that will provide you with consistency and accuracy. Allegorical and metaphorical interpretations are subject to whims, emotions, personal perspectives and too much pizza the night before. There is no consistency. One person’s interpretation is just as valid as another’s.  There is no authority. As a result man becomes the judge of God’s Word rather than God’s Word judging man.

The failure to use a literal method of interpretation based on the contextual principles we already discussed has led to many false doctrines and distortions of Scripture. Every view of the Scripture is not equally valid. Every interpretation does not hold the same weight. All religions do not have the same goals.

While soulwinning, I am often asked why my interpretation is any better than someone else’s? Why are the Baptists different than the Catholics or etc.? They complain because they are confused. They are confused because they do not read the Bible and accept a literal interpretation. Instead, they allow others to allegorize, spiritualize and hypnotize.  They get caught up in denominational and sectarian manipulation rather than simply going straight to the Word itself. If everyone interpreted the Bible literally and contextually there would be no major differences or doctrinal distinctions.

If you want to get the most out of your Bible read it contextually and interpret it literally.

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” Psalm 119:9

Read your Bible literally.

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Bible Study Tip #11 – Prayerfully

Posted: August 15, 2011 in Bible Study Tips, Devotional, Events
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Prayerfully

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” Colossians1:9

Paul prayed that the church in Collosse would be filled with understanding. Godly pastors everywhere pray that their congregations will understand the Word of God through the preaching and their personal Bible study. Do you pray for your own understanding? Do you begin your Bible study with a request for God’s guidance?

Our last study tip revealed the importance of the Holy Spirit in our Bible study. Have you asked Him to guide you? Have you asked Him to give you spiritual discernment? Have you asked God for an understanding spirit?

Cornelius was a just man who prayed but lacked understanding. As a Gentile, he was unwelcome by the Jews. Christianity at that time had been perceived as strictly Jewish. But Cornelius prayed. God intervened and sent Peter to explain. Cornelius’ understanding was opened because He prayed and God heard. Read Acts 10 and learn for yourself.

Do you think God would do the same for you? Do you think God will hear your prayer and give you understanding? He will. Start right now. Ask. Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7).

Travel back a page or two from the story of Cornelius and meet a man of Ethiopia in Acts 8:26 and following. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship but he was confused. I can’t imagine that his worship didn’t include prayer and seeking. He went there to knock on God’s door in hopes of having the Scriptures opened unto him. God heard and sent Philip who found this man reading the Bible in his chariot. Stop and think about that. He was sitting in his chariot reading his Bible. God just pulled him over in his journey and compelled him to read.

As Philip approached, he heard him reading out loud! He knew instantly why the Spirit of God directed him there. Before long, the Ethiopian’s eyes were opened, he understood and received Christ.

David prayed diligently concerning his own personal Bible study. He recorded his prayers in Psalm 119, the longest chapter of the Bible. This entire passage exalts the marvelous Word of God. Woven within David’s praise are David’s prayers. Do you want to know what to pray for in your Bible study? Consider David’s example.

David’s first prayer was that God would teach him His Word. He wanted to gain a knowledge of God’s Word. Make this your first prayer as David did. David simply prayed “Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes” (Psalm 119:12) Listen to him as he continues to pray for God to teach him.

“Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.” Psalm 119:33

“Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.” Psalm 119:124

“Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.” Psalm 119:135

“Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.” Psalm 119:66

Not only did David want God to teach him but also to give him understanding. He didn’t just want the facts but also the application and comprehension. He wanted to know why and how. He wanted to know what each passage would mean for him personally.

“Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.” Psalm 119:27

 “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” Psalm 119:34

“I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.” Psalm 119:125

“The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.” Psalm 119:144

“Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.” Psalm 119:169

David wanted strength from God’s Word and asked for it. Do you ask God to empower you through His Word? You should. He will.

“My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.” Psalm 119:28

David wanted a heart for God’s Word. This almost seems strange since he already appears to be passionate about the Word of God. But David understood human nature and the snare of the devil. He knew that his flesh loved sin. When you pray, ask God to increase your passion for the Scriptures above all worldliness and vice.

“Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.” Psalm 119:36

“Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.” Psalm 119:80

David prayed for perception and focus. He didn’t want to overlook anything in God’s Word. He didn’t want to be distracted as he read. He wanted to see what others might overlook. He didn’t want one truth to be hidden from him.

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Psalm 119:18

“I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.” Psalm 119:19

David didn’t want God’s Word to simply be a passing thought. He longed for more than temporary results. He wanted to be established in God’s Word. He had a desire for the Word to be cemented in his heart.

 “Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.” Psalm 119:38

David desired direction from the Word. It was his guide. He longed for practical application so he prayed,

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133

David expected God’s Word to bring life into his soul. He wanted the Scriptures to be made alive in him, so he prayed to that end.

Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.” Psalm 119:149

It’s not too simple a thought to simply ask for God’s Word to help us.

“Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.” Psalm 119:175

Follow David’s example and you will have plenty of things to ask God for before your daily devotions. Use David’s prayers to make a list of what you should pray for each day as you approach God’s Word.

Don’t let your devotional prayer life be like Jonah’s. When we examine  Jonah 1:1, we read “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah…”. The rest of the chapter tells us how he rebelled against the Word and the consequences that followed. Then we arrive at Jonah 2:1 which says “Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly.” If he had prayed like this right around Jonah 1:1, there wouldn’t have been a Jonah 2:1.

Jonah 3:1 reveals “And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,”. It’s always better if God doesn’t have to tell us a second time! There is usually trouble in between the first time and the second time.

Is your devotional prayer life going to be like David’s or Jonah’s? Will you begin with prayer or will you be coerced into prayer because you failed to pray like David in the beginning? Jonah had the example of David to follow in the Psalms but chose otherwise. You have both examples.

As you read your Bible you might pray as David did:

  • Teach me and give me knowledge.
  • Give me understanding.
  • Give me strength.
  • Give me a heart and passion for Your Word.
  • Give me perception and focus as I read.
  • Establish me in Your Word.
  • Direct my steps through Your Word.
  • Enrich my life through Your Word.
  • Help me with Your Word.

Study your Bible prayerfully.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

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Bible Study Tip #10 – Spiritually

Posted: August 6, 2011 in Bible Study Tips, Devotional
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Study your Bible Spiritually.

The best way to understand a book is by getting to know the author. If you enroll in any literature class, you will spend some time learning about the authors before you read their work. You will learn of their life and influences. You will learn of the core values that influenced their writing.

When we learned about studying contextually, we discussed paying attention to the human authors. Now we want to focus on the divine Author of Scripture. He is the reason for a cohesive collection of books that we know as The Book, the Holy Bible.

“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

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Theopneustos is the Greek word translated as inspired. It simply means God-breathed. God is the Author of all Scripture. It was His Spirit that inspired the human writers. In so doing, He did not extract their personalities or experiences from the writing process. However, He did move them to pen exactly what He wanted to be written and prevented their pens from printing any error. Therefore, to truly understand Scripture, we need His help. Scriptural interpretation is not subject to man’s interpretation but rather to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” 2 Peter 1:20

Holy Spirit power becomes available through salvation. When one receives Christ Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour, the Holy Spirit immediately indwells them. Paul teaches us that those who are born again have the Spirit and those who are not don’t.

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Romans 8:9

This means that the first step to receive Spiritual enlightment of the Scriptures is to receive Christ. Otherwise, the gospel pages are a mystery. They give off enough light and conviction for one to receive Christ but the deeper truths and power of God’s Word remain hidden.

“But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:2-4

I recall a young lady who began attending church with great interest. She enjoyed the preaching and was earnest in her desire to know God. However, she resisted receiving Christ too soon. She was waiting until she could fully comprehend the Bible. When I revealed the futility of her objective, she received Christ. She realized that she would never be saved by her plan because she would never understand it all in her lost condition. But when she received Christ, the Holy Spirit came in and her understanding was enlightened and she has been faithfully serving God now for nearly ten years now.

As a born again believer in Christ, we have the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit! The night before His passion and crucifixion, Christ began teaching His disciples that He would be absent from them physically but would indwell them spiritually. He essentially said, “I am now with you but soon I will be in you” (John 14:16-20). They would experience His presence in a greater way than ever before!

What would this spiritual indwelling mean for them? It would mean the same thing it means for us. Focus your attention just a few verses down the page.

“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 14:26

The Holy Spirit is our Teacher. Not only does He teach us but He reminds us of God’s Word! That is fascinating! Every Christian who takes their Bible study seriously has experienced this phenomenon. At just the right time in your life, the Holy Spirit will remind you of a portion of Scripture that meets your need at that very moment. Perhaps it is during a soulwinning experience. It may be during a time when you need wisdom, comfort or strength. It could be during a time when you are counseling another. Whatever the need, the Spirit of God is aware and reminds you of what you have studied in the past. However, He cannot remind you of what you never gave any mind to before.  This is why our first tip, Study Consistently, is so important.

Now turn a page or two in your Bible and discover 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.” John 16:13

Does it appear to you that Jesus was making a point to His disciples? Don’t you think that He was emphasizing that the Holy Spirit would be their source for understanding truth? Pilate asked the question, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). But even before he asked, Jesus answered.

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17

What truth will He guide us in? It is the truth of His Word. It is this truth that sanctifies or sets us apart in a privileged place. It is this truth that gives us power and it is revealed only through His Spirit.

“By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.” 2 Corinthians 6:7

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” Ephesians 1:13

“For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.” Colossians 1:5

 “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13

 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

God’s Word is truth and it is the Holy Spirit that guides us in this truth. Although we will learn to study our Bibles academically, our study will be empty if it is not done spiritually. A gentleman who minored in religion during college admitted after a few days of revival “I learned more in the last seventy-two hours than I did in my entire college career!” Why is that possible? Because academics without the Spirit of God are empty.

God’s Word must be spiritually discerned which requires the intervention of His Holy Spirit. It is not the power of your wit and intellect that you will comprehend the power of God’s Word. It is by the instruction of His Spirit. The Apostle Paul sums up all that we have discussed here perfectly.

“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. 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. 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.” 1 Corinthians 2:12-14

What Jesus did for the disciples in this post resurrection appearance, He will do for us through His Spirit.

“ And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.” Luke 24:44=45

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Bible Study Tip #9 – Unselfishly

Posted: July 27, 2011 in Bible Study Tips, Devotional, Events
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Unselfishly

The best way to keep what you got is to give it away!

Why do some people seem to have a greater knowledge of God’s Word than others? Why do they seem to have the Bible at their finger tips? Because they have a eagerness to share what God has given them! The more you share what God has taught you the more likely you are to retain and recall those truths.

“I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.” Psalm 119:46

Give it away as soon as you get it! What is God teaching you today? Share it with your husband or wife. Tell it to your best friend. Tell it to  your worst friend. Tell it to all your friends but tell it to somebody.

Truth is refreshing when taken in and remains fresh as you share it. However, truth that never moves grows stale and stagnant. Of course, truth is always truth but it makes less of a difference in your life when it lies dormant.

Don’t be selfish with the blessings of your Bible study. Many people will share a thought from their devotions on Facebook or Twitter. Some choose to have blogs such as this one and share more detailed thoughts.

Do you really want an experience? Teach a Sunday school class. Get involved in junior church or a Wednesday night children’s program.  VBS is an excellent opportunity, though it comes but once a year. Those who teach and preach God’s Word gain more than anyone from their time in God’s Word!

Do you remember when Jeremiah grew discouraged? He just got tired of the whole mess. No one was listening. No one even cared. He just decided that he would be selfish and keep God’s Word to himself. He wouldn’t share it anymore. Mum was the word. But the more he tried to bottle it up the more he just couldn’t keep it in. The more he tried to just shut up the harder it was to keep from shouting it out! God’s Word in him was like a volcano ready to errupt.

“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.” Jeremiah 20:9

What about family Bible time? Teach your children what God is teaching you. Give them a chance to share with you what God is teaching them. Help them begin this practice early on.

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Perhaps you will recall the maniac whose life was changed by Jesus. When all was said and done he wanted to join the twelve and travel with Jesus. But the Lord had other plans for him.

“Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” Mark 5:19

The Lord has the same desire for you. Don’t just take it in and take it in and take it in without ever giving it out! Tell others what God has done for you in your daily Bible study!

Truth makes an impression on you when you take it in and it makes an impact when you give it away.

Read your Bible UNSELFISHLY.

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Bible Study Tip #8

Posted: July 26, 2011 in Bible Study Tips, Devotional, Events
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Practically

Study your Bible practically. Put into practice what you learn.

Bible study is more than an intellectual exercises. Knowledge without application is vain. God’s Word should change your life.

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” Psalm 119:9

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11

A simple knowledge of the Scriptures without application is empty. It might give you the “big head” but it is lacking in spiritual power.

“Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.  But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

When we love God it shows by the proper application of His Word. There are many who can explain the Bible but fewer who live the Bible. Do you recall what we discussed in Bible Study Tip #5 – Anthrop0logically. We examined James 1:22-24.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”

Too many people were hearing the Word but not doing the Word. Make your Bible study practical by living it. As you read questioningly, ask yourself “How can I practically apply this passage?” What positive example should I begin applying. What negative example do I see that I must avoid? What command from Christ appears that demands my obedience? What principle from Proverbs demands my application?

Jesus made it very simple in John 14:15.

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Consider Josiah. He was a very young king in the southern kingdom of Judah. The nation was in great decline. God’s Word had fallen into disuse. In fact, it had been so long since they read their Bibles they couldn’t even find one. Then one day Hilkiah the priest discovered it! He found the book of the law and shared this great news with Shaphan the scribe who brought it before the king (2 Kings 22:8-11).

When King Josiah heard the Word he rent his clothes in grief. He was suddenly aware that they had not been living by the Word of God. Immediately he sought the Lord and won His favour “because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place” (2 Kings 22:19).

Turn the page to the next chapter and you will read of Josiah’s choice to make his Bible study practical.

“And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.” 2 Kings 23:3

Josiah won God’s favor because he applied God’s Word to his life in a practical way. Don’t just be a hearer of God’s Word. Determine to be a doer and your Bible study will be practical! The more you implement God’s Word the greater the impact. Be more than a hearer be a doer. The Bible is only as real to you as you apply it in daily life. The more you “do it” the more you will “get it.”

Read your Bible PRACTICALLY.

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Bible Study Tip #7 – Contextually

Posted: July 20, 2011 in Bible Study Tips, Devotional
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Contextually

A text without a context is a pretext.

Write that statement down somewhere in your Bible and remember it. Many false doctrines have been created by quoting a Scripture out of context. This is the same thing politicians do all the time. Have you ever heard a sound bite on the news and you instinctively knew that this wasn’t what the person intended to say? Some slick editor simply cut out the comments before and after leaving a false impression of what the individual was truly trying to communicate? Many people pull this same trick on the Scriptures.

Maybe you’ve heard the comedic example of an illiterate preacher candidating at a church. He was passionate in his delivery as he butchered the Scriptures mixing up one passage with another. Listen to him “preach.”

Once upon a time a man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves; and the thorns grew up and choked the man. And he went on and met the Queen of Sheba, and she gave that man a thousand talents of silver, and a hundred changes of raiment. And he got in his chariot and drove furiously, and as he was driving along under a big tree, his hair got caught in a limb and left him hanging here! And he hung there forty days and forty nights. The ravens brought him food to eat and water to drink. And one night while he was hanging there asleep, his wife Delilah came along and cut off his hair, and he fell on stony ground. And it begin to rain, and rained forty days and forty nights. And he hid himself in a cave. Later he went on and met a man who said, “Come in and take supper with me.” But he said, “I can’t come in, for I have married a wife.” And the man went out into the highways and hedges and compelled him to come in! He then came to Jerusalem, and saw Queen Jezebel sitting high and lifted up in a window of the wall. When she saw him she laughed, and he said, “Throw her down out of there,” and they threw her down. And he said “Throw her down again,” and they threw her down seventy-times-seven. And the fragments which they picked up filled twelve baskets full! Now my question to you today is:  In the resurrection whose wife will she be?

This humorous illustration demonstrates ho some people can twist some strange ideas out of the Bible. They can wrestle a verse right out of its original context and make it say just the opposite of what the Holy Ghost intended it to say. Some people do this simply out of lazy Bible study habits, some out of ignorance and some quite simply out of hostility towards God’s Word. Very often it is simply the result of folks trying to justify sin and heresy. This isn’t just a modern phenomonon. It actually began before the New Testament was completely written. Listen to Peter’s rebuke of those who were already experts at it.

“As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” 2 Peter 3:16-17

Speak to someone involved in a cult and before long you will learn that they can’t stay and focus on a single passage of Scripture. They love to jump from one place to another bringing unrelated passages together to confirm their unbiblical positions.

Liberal theologians do this frequently in order to deny miraculous events like creation. For instance, many want to deny a literal six day creation in favor of Darwin’s religion of evolution. Yet they don’t want to give up the whole Bible. So they take 2 Peter 3:8 and say “A thousand years is as a day and a day as a thousand years” and invent the Day/Age Theory. This means that a day in Genesis 1 might have really been a thousand years. Why don’t these same people apply that same principle to Exodus 20:9-12. There we learn of a six day work week based on the days of creation. So if a day is as a thousand years, we ought to work for 6,000 years then take a thousand off. You say “That’s ridiculous!” I agree and so is the Day/Age Theory because it takes the Bible out of context.

It is irresponsible to piecemeal unrelated passages together to confirm your man made theories. If you read the Bible in context you will never wind up with such ludicrous ideas. If we are going to read our Bibles contextually, there are just a few simple questions we ought to ask ourselves when we read. The resources discussed in Bible Study Tip #6 will help you find some of these answers. However, they can usually be found right there in your reading.

The first thing I want to know is who the author is. Who is writing. Now as believers we all know that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Author (2 Peter 1:21). But we cannot forget that the Holy Spirit used men and their experiences. It helps me to know if this was written by Paul or by Moses. When I understand that a certain Psalm was written by David, it adds clarity to the meaning.

Then I want to know the circumstances of the writing. If I can place this Psalm within a certain portion of David’s life that helps me even more. When I am reading 1 Corinthians and I understand the troubles in that church, it adds depth to my understanding of each passage. When we understand the political climate during the time of the gospels, we better understand how and why people reacted as they did. Knowing that Paul was writing from prison adds perspective to what he is saying. When we can place the Old Testament prophets in context of the events of their day, we can make mores sense of their warnings.

This leads us to inquire about the time period in which a passage was written. It might be a simple as discerning between the Old Testament and the New. It could be learning if this prophet was writing during the days of David, Solomon, Ahab, or Josiah. Was this before or after the Resurrection? Before or after the Great Commission? Before or after Pentecost? When we understand that 2 Timothy was penned just before Paul’s execution, we better understand why he said certain things to Timothy.

That brings us to our next contextual question. Who is the author writing to? Was Paul writing to Timothy, Titus, the church at Corinth or the church at Ephesus? When we understand the context of who the author is addressing, we will better understand the text. As we read Paul’s writing to the Philippian church and hear him teach them to rejoice always (Philippians 4:4) we can recall that it was in Philippi that Paul sang and worshiped God while in jail. His jailer is now a member of this church in Philippi and knows that Paul practices what he preaches. Do you see how context can affect our understanding?

One of the great essential principles of contextual bible study is to simply look and the surrounding passages. While praying and counseling with a dear family the wife came to me with a verse she found encouraging. It said “For we walk by faith, and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). She was hoping (and justifiably so) that this might be a sign that her husband would live. I had the same hope and prayer. However, I wanted her to be prepared for whatever God might have for her. So, as gently as I could, I helped her see the context of the verse. The very next verse reads “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” As it turned out, God did take him home to heaven. However, we have the confidence that 2 Corinthians 5:8 was true for him. He always said that he was a winner either way.

Mormons have  developed the unbiblical practice of baptizing themselves for the dead by taking 1 Corinthians 15:29 out of context. There is no possible way that this passage teaches that a person can get baptized in the place of the deceased in order to procure their salvation. The context teaches us that if we don’t believe that Christ rose again, there is no point in being baptized in His name. You would be baptized in the name of a dead person: Jesus.  Baptism symbolizes the death burial and resurrection. If you don’t believe in the resurrection, you can only do a half baptism! I don’t know too many who are willing to go for that! I’m glad that Jesus isn’t dead but is risen. We baptize in the name of  a living Savior not a dead one! The surrounding passages give us the true context.

Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. This does not mean we should use unconnected passages as discussed in the Day/Age Theory. However, it does mean that we should consider the whole counsel of  God (Acts 20:27).  All major doctrines and teachings are illustrated and supported in more than one passage of Scripture. Many Christians find Scriptures that, standing alone, may seem to say one thing but in context say something else. Their approach ignores the whole counsel of God in favor of an isolated passage.

The biblical justification of social drinking is a train wreck of contextualization.

An example of this is the current trend to endorse social drinking. “After all,” they argue, “Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine and deacons are not to drink ‘much’ wine.” They take these passages (1 Timothy 3:8 & 5:23) to justify drinking in moderation. Of course they love to add in that Jesus turned water into wine. This type of exegesis is a train wreck of contextualization. It is understandable that a young Christian might make this mistake but it is a tragedy when supposed Bible scholars do. It make you wonder if they were drinking while interpreting.

What do you do with Habakkuk 2:15? “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!” How do you ignore passages like Proverbs 23:31?

“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. Read the surrounding verses (29-35) for further condemnation of drinking. Can we include Proverbs 20:1? “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

I can understand if a young Christian is confused at this point. The Bible appears to say two different things. At this point a worldly Christian stops studying contextually and just chooses the verses that say what he wants them to say. However, one that really wants to know continues to search for the context. In this case, context will mean to consider but language and culture.

Linguistically speaking, wine was the term used for any beverage that came from the fruit of the vine. It included fermented and unfermented. So the fact that Jesus turned water into wine means nothing more than grape juice. To suggest otherwise would be to pronounce a curse upon Him because of Habakkuk 2:15 cited above.

Culturally we must consider the methods of water purification in those days. Wine was mixed with water for purification purposes. Mixed in appropriate proportions there was no intoxicating effects. However, when much wine was added to the water, it became more recreational and less medicinal. Thus Paul told Timothy “a little wine.”

Not only do I want to know who is writing as mentioned above but I also want to know who is speaking. While the Scripture is all accurate we must realize that sometimes it is an accurate record of a lie that is being told. For instance, some verses quote what Satan says (Genesis 3:5).

In Job we find lengthy passages that are quotes from his friends that are actually false accusations against Job. Eliphaz asserts that righteous people don’t suffer Listen to him condemn Job in Job 4:7-8.

“Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?  Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.”

It would be dangerous to randomly select one of these passages and quote them as a biblical precepts without considering who is actually speaking. Would we want to quote Jezebel, Judas or Lucifer without acknowledging their spiritual condition? Be mindful of who is speaking when you consider the context of a verse or passage.

When we read the Scriptures without context we are more prone to find what we want to find and overlook that which is distasteful to us. However, when we read it contextually we are forced to grapple with the truth as we discover it. Some truth is uncomfortable. God’s truth will require adjustments in our lives. It will compel us to holy living. We have a choice in how we handle the Scriptures. We can do so deceitfully by bring our preconceived ideas and preferences to the text or we can do so honestly, allowing God’s Word to speak for its self.

“But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:2

Read your Bible CONTEXTUALLY.

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Bible Study Tip #6

Posted: July 19, 2011 in Bible Study Tips, Devotional
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Resourcefully

“The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.” 2 Timothy 4:13

Although we don’t know exactly what the books and parchments were, we do know that they were resources for Paul. Certainly, one of them must be a reference to Scripture which is our only completely reliable resource. The other may have been his own writings and perhaps some of his inspired epistels themselves. Perhaps they were unfinished correspondence. They could have been resources to aide in his study.

We know that Paul was a learned man and even quoted sources outside the Scriptures.

“ For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” Acts 16:8

“One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.”  Titus 1:12

Jude quoted the First Book of Enoch. He found this literature helpful although not a part of the inspired Scriptures.

“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Jude 1:14-15

When you study your Bible, you should do so resourcefully. That doesn’t mean to fill your time with secular works or reading. It doesn’t mean to get sidetracked into extra-biblical Christian writing. But it does mean that you can benefit from research and the study of others. Apollos was greatly helped when Aquila and Priscilla “expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly” according to Acts 18:26.

Disclaimer

We can and should benefit from the knowledge and research of others. However, I would admonish the discerning reader to be cautious in the resources you use and the amount of faith you place in them. Understand that anything but the Bible is imperfect. Hopefully, my writing is inspirational but it is certainly not inspired. No commentary, dictionary or biblical encyclopedia can replace nor should it correct the plain and simply teaching of God’s Word. Any work of man that attempts to do so should be discredited immediately.

Unfortunately, there are commentators who will say things such as “whosoever doesn’t mean whosoever” and so forth. Others will attempt to erode your confidence in the bible you hold by suggesting that certain passages do not appear in more reliable manuscripts. Resources that would suggest such things are not your greatest resources regardless of how popular they might be. A catchy cover doesn’t guarantee reliable content.

Learn to discern between opinion and fact. Recognize bias when you come across it. Just because some is a recognized “spiritual leader” that does not make him spiritually discerning. Question anyone who questions God’s Word.

Useful Resources

With our disclaimer behind us let us examine some resources that a student of the Scriptures might want to posses.

Golgotha: The Place of the Skull

A Bible Dictionary or Encyclopedia is a great resource. They can help us to discover the meaning of difficult or unfamiliar words. They will usually provide facts about places such as named mountains, cities, nations and people groups. You can look up the Edomites and discover that they are the descendants of of Esau, Jacob’s brother. You can learn that the Ammonites and Moabites are the nations produced by Lot’s incestuous relationship with his daughters. You can learn that Golgatha means the place of the skull and you might even find a picture that demonstrates why.

A lexicon will help the student of the Scriptures dig deeper into the original languages in which the Bible was written. This is not for the purpose of correcting the English but rather for discovering added nuance or depth of comprehension. For instance we find two Greek words translated as love in John 21. One is agape and the other phileo. Agape represents the highest form of love and is the word Christ used the first two times. Phileo means to like strongly and is the word Peter used in reply and the Lord used the last time. While we found our King James absolutely correct, an understanding of the Greek words gives added insight.

Bible Maps can add depth to your Bible study. The Scriptures are filled with the names of cities, provinces, nations and so forth. Without a geographic understanding these names and places have less significance than they could. For instance, just how far was Tarshish from Nineveh? Did you realize that Jonah was going 2,694 miles out of the way by boat? This helps us to understand the extent of Jonah’s rebellion.

Bible maps can often be found inside your Bible and Christian bookstores will carry more detailed maps. One of the best map resources, however, is online. Using GoogleEarth (download) you can find every biblical location. You can zoom in and out and calculate distance. You can see the topography and much more. The geocoded bible can be found at http://www.openbible.info/geo/.

Jonah's rebellion started him on a 2,694 mile journey out of God's will.

Concordances can be very useful. The Strong’s Concordance is an exhaustive list detailing where to find any word in the Bible. Do you want to know what the Bible says about the blood. Look it up. Every verse with that word is listed. A topical concordance, such as Torrey’s,  will list all Scriptures pertaining to a specific subject. 

A Study Bible can be a good resource. However, the reader should discern between the inspired Scripture and the uninspired notes. Unfortunately, most study bibles are not produced with a conservative or fundamental mindset. There are some exceptions, however, such as the Rock of Ages Study Bible. Many fundamentalists enjoy the Old Scofield or the Thompson Chain Reference Study Bibles. Even these have some shortcomings. Personally, I think that there is a vaccum that needs to be filled in this area. However, a Spirit-filled and discerning reader can benefit from a variety of study Bibles as long as he is able to know the difference between what is inspired (God’s Word) and what is opinion (study notes). 

In addition to maps, good study bible will provide the reader with several beneficial features. Cross references are an excellent tool found in almost every one. Usually found in the center column, you will find references to other passages in the Bible that are relevant to the passage or verse you are currently reading. This is helpful when comparing the gospel accounts of the same event or in following topical studies.

Book overviews and outlines are usually found at the beginning of each book of the Bible. This will help you to understand who is writing, when and why.  The outline will help you discover major themes of the author helping you to see the big picture. It is wise to read the introduction to each book of the Bible before reading that book. In fact, it is good to read more than one person’s perspective. Use the notes in your study bible. Compare those with a Bible dictionary or encyclopedia. Look into a reliable commentary and see what that author says.

Commentaries can aid you in your understanding of Scripture. However, I think its always a good idea to read the Bible first. Draw your own conclusions first and make notes. In fact, read a passage more than once before consulting a commentary. This allows you to allow the Holy Spirit to be the first to influence you. Reading a commentary first may cause you to approach a passage with the commentators bias first. Remember, even the best commentators are only men.

After reading a good commentary, you will likely find that he is restating some things you already discovered. Good for you. Then you may find him linking this passage to another. He may give historical or geographical information that adds significance. He may apply the passage to your personal life. Each commentator has a different style and approach. Some are academic while others are more devotional or inspirational. Many fall somewhere in between. However, a good commentator will help you expand your understanding of the text.

Once again, we find that the market is flooded with a lot of fluff as well as liberal and even unscriptural commentary. Be discerning. Look for authors who do not over allegorize but who interpret the Bible literally. Dr. David Sorenson has produced a reliable commentary on the entire Bible that is available in hardback or on CD. 

Bible Software

The information age has made all of these resources readily available to the average user. Typical Bible software contains the text of the KJV for free. That’s all you need anyway. It will usually include a few dictionaries, commentaries and topical concordances. One of the greatest features is the search engine. Type in any word you like and it will search the entire text of the Bible. Additionally, you can search for a specific phrase or a range of words with instant results. Without ever taking a language class, you can look up the Hebrew or Greek words and discover their meaning. Most programs even give you the ability to make your own notes. Anyone with just a touch of computer literacy can have a massive library’s worth of resources at his fingertips for little or no cost. The Power Bible is inexpensive and very useful. E-Sword has many advantages as well and is FREE!

While absolutely nothing should replace your Bible, there are many resources which can enhance your Bible study and enrich your understanding of God’s Word. Many of these resources are available in line with your Scriptures in the form of a study Bible. Other resources are available online or in software packages.

Study the Bible RESOURCEFULLY.

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Bible Study Tip #5

Posted: July 16, 2011 in Bible Study Tips, Devotional
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Anthropologically

Don’t let this seventeen letter word scare you. Anthropos is simply the Greek word for mankind. Anthropology is nothing more than the study of mankind. Sociologists have studied mankind for many years. However, we want to examine ourselves through the lens of Scripture. If God is our Creator the God’s Word is our users manual. When we study God’s Word theologically we are discovering who God is. When we study it anthropologically we are discovering who we are and what God expects of us.

As we study the Bible we begin to see who we are so that we might be changed and conformed into His image.  James says that the Bible is like a mirror that reflects our image so that we can make the appropriate changes.

” But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” James 1:22-24

The Scriptures are going to teach you that you are made in the image of God. Vishal Mangalwadi explains how the Bible gave him the answers that could not be found in eastern religion or university education in his recent book,  “The Book That Made Your World: How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization.”

“Introduction to Psychology was a required course for those of us studying philosophy at Allahabad University. In the late 1960s, the department was dominated by behaviorism, the school of psychology championed by B. F. Skinner. Behaviorism presupposes that there is neither God or soul. Consequently, human beings are chemicals-turned-animals, qualitatively no different from dogs. Chemistry has no soul or ‘free will.’ It functions as a closed, deterministic system of causes and effects.”

Can you already see how disturbing anthropology can be without God’s Word? It strips mankind of his soul and free will. It robs him of any real purpose in life. No wonder the world is in such a mess. Young minds are being taught foolishness on the University level and receiving doctorate degrees for it! Young Mangalwadi was not satisfied with the emptiness of such a false education.

“As I started rereading the Bible’s first chapter, I found a radically different view of human self. It says that God created human beings in his image (‘man” – both male and femal). On one hand both dogs and I are creatures. We are similar in many ways. For example, we are both mammals. Yet, in fundamental ways we are very different. I cannot know the essence of my humanness by studying dogs. If I am made in God’s image, would not knowing God be essential to knowing myself? What does this first champter of Genesis tell me about God and myself?

“The Bible opens by declaring: ‘In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.’ God is the Creator. A dog is only a creature. What am I? If Genesis is right, then I am both a creature (made by God) and a creator (made in the image of the Creator). I am a creative creature.

“That was a epiphany for me. Those few short sentences from Genesis matched my experience better than the voluminous words from the department of psychology. The biblical words made sense because they were true to what I knew about myself. Machines produce. Human beings create. What’s the difference? We create what we choose to create. Freedom, or choice, is the essence of creativity.”

We learn the value of mankind not onlybecause we are created in the image of God but also because of the great effort and sacrifice He has made to redeem mankind. God’s love for man was so extreme that He would give “his only begotten Son” to redeem him! We also learn from the Scriptures why man needed redemption. We discover our sinful nature passed down from Adam (Romans 5:12) and see it illustrated on every page. We discover the struggle between the old nature and the new (the flesh and the spirit) as well as how to obtain the victory (Romans 7:14-25).

What the Bible taught Mangalwadi was vastly different than what he had learned either from the eastern religions or from the university. The Bible taught him the truth about mankind! It is only to the extent that we understand our human condition and God’s remedy that we are empowered to have success in our lives and make a difference in the lives of others.

Every Bible story is a study in anthropology. One of the greatest examples is the contrast between King Saul and King David. In both we witness the extent of sin in which man can fall. One teaches the remorse of rebellion while the other demonstrates the remedy through repentance. We can study the twelve apostles and learn how close a man like Judas can be to the truth and still not find it. Likewise, we can learn from Peter and Paul how far we can fall and still find redemption and success. Every story, every Psalm and every proverb teaches us something about ourselves and our fellow man that can guide us gracefully through life’s journey.

Ready your Bible Anthroplogically. Learn about yourself and your fellow man.

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Bible Study Tip #4

Posted: July 15, 2011 in Bible Study Tips, Devotional, Events
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Theologically

Theology is nothing more than the study of God. This sounds too simple to say but I’ll say it anyway. Look for God when you read your Bible. God’s Word is His revelation of Himself to mankind. Every book, every chapter and every verse is God revealing Himself to us. So what is He saying? What does this passage teach me about God?

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

If you don’t gain your perspective of who God is from your personal Bible study, then where does it come from? Without the Bible, a person can get some strange ideas about God. Just for a little perspective, I checked in with YouTube to see what kind of ideas  young people had about God. Take a look at what they said.

Though one might find some humor in these childish perspectives, the tragedy is that many adults can’t do any better. Their concepts of God are just as fictional and baseless. What is the basis for your perspective on who God is? Your opinion must have a foundation outside of yourself.

Certainly, there is no greater authority on who God is than God, Himself. The Scriptures teach us that God reveals Himself to us in two ways. Bible scholars have classified these as natural or general revelation and special or specific revelation.

Natural revelation is just what it sounds like. It is God revealing Himself through nature. When you look up to the stars of the heavens or the depths of the seas we understand that this beauty and order is not a product of random chance. Common sense tells us that there is no design without a designer. It takes much more faith to believe in Darwin than it does to believe in God.

“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:19-20

However, as indicated above, natural revelation is very general. It doesn’t give us the specifics. It tells the man with common sense that God exists and that He is orderly and loving. But it doesn’t tell us who God is. It doesn’t teach us of His plan of redemption or how we can communicate with Him. It fails to teach us of mankind’s fall in Eden or of the cross of Calvary. We cannot conceive of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ simply through nature. The attributes and expectations of God are not clearly defined through natural revelation.  This is only available through special revelation which is more specific.

Special Revelation is found in Holy Scripture. This is also known as specific revelation because it gives us the details.  The answer to the question “What is God like?” is not left to mere opinion or speculation. The Bible is a factual representation of Who God is. It is a shame for a believer to answer that question with statements that begin “Well, I feel like God….”. Who God is is not a matter of how we feel. We were not given the responsibility or privilege of creating or defining God according to our feelings. We need something more tangible than our feelings to understand God. We need His special revelation of Himself.

Every passage of Scripture teaches us something about Who God is and what He expects. As you peer into God’s Word today ask yourself, “What does this teach me about the character of God?” Look for meaning in your search for a closer relationship with Him. The better you know God the more capable you are of pleasing Him. The more you know Him and desire to please Him the closer your walk with Him will be. The closer you walk with God the more fulfilling your life is.

Examine a few Scriptures that speak to us about the privilege and power of knowing God.

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:10

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.” 2 Peter 1:2

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”    Philippians 3:8

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever.” Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

Have a goal when you read you Bible. Ask questions about Who God is and be sure to write down what you discover.

Read your Bible Theologically.

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A genuine biblical knowledge of God changes us completely. Take a look at Isaiah 6:1-8. There the prophet saw God as He was and it changed him dramatically. Use the reply section below to discuss just how Isaiah’s knowledge of God changed him.

Share a personal testimony. How has God changed you since you came to know Him?

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