What is the Word?
The Bible is the word
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God (John 1:1).
Word is like hummer that breaketh the rock in pieces (Jeremiah 23:29)
Word sanctify and cleanse (Ephesians 5:26)
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that will keep thy righteous judgments I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word. Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.(Psalms 119:105-107).
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.(Romans10:17)
Word comes like a rain (Isaiah 55)
What does the word contain?
The Bible doesn't contain the word but the Bible is the word.
66(books)=39+27(All Jewish except Luke who is Greek)
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of a man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by Holy Ghost.(2Peter 1:20-21).
How do you apply the word in your life?
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psalms 119:11).
This book of law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.(Joshua 1:8)
Relationship with God
1. Introduction
A personal
relationship with the God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy
Spirit lies at the heart of Christianity. Every Christian has access to a
personal relationship with the Triune God. The essence of any relationship is
spending time with the other person and getting to know him or her. This is
true of our relationship with God. As Christians, we have the privilege of
knowing God personally.
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Building a relationship requires two-way communication. We get to know
another person by speaking (sharing our hearts) and listening (hearing his
heart). How can two-way communication take place in our relationship with the
Lord?
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Although the Lord can
speak to us in other ways (e.g., prophecy, counsel, the inner prompting of the
Holy Spirit, circumstances), the written Word of God (the Bible) is by far the
most common and comprehensive way the Lord ‘shares His heart’ with us. In His
Word, He has told us all the most important things He wants us to know about
Him—His nature, His attributes, His ways, His will, and so on. As we read His
Word, the Spirit actively reveals the Father and the Son to us. According to
research conducted by the Barna Group, daily Bible study is the single biggest
catalyst of spiritual growth. If you are serious about growing in your
relationship with Christ, you simply must spend time with Him through
His Word.
If the Word of God is
the primary way He speaks to us, prayer is the primary way we share our hearts
with Him. The Lord has given us an open invitation to approach His throne of
grace to find help for our needs (Heb. 4:15-16). He has promised to hear every
prayer and accept every confession. Our prayers sometimes change things,
but they always change us! As we bare our hearts before our Creator, the
Lover of our souls, He works in us to shape our dreams and desires, forming in
us the character of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Reading His Word and
speaking to Him in prayer are the two main ways we can nurture our personal
relationship with the Lord. In this unit, we are going to examine essential
principles and guidelines to help you enrich your Bible reading and prayer
life.
2. Bible Reading
2.1. What is the Bible?
The Bible is a
special and unique book. It is so central to the Christian faith that
Christians have often been referred to as the people of the book. The Bible is the Word of God (Heb.
4:12). It contains the very words of God (Rom. 3:2). Although it was
written by men, these men did not write on their own. They were inspired by the
Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit revealed to them what they should write, and He
guided them to make sure they wrote exactly what God wanted them to write. This
is the most important verse about God’s Word—you would do well to commit it to
memory.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful
for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the
man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Because the Bible is
the Word of God, we can have complete confidence in it as a guide for what we
should believe and how we should live. The Scriptures themselves testify to the
fact that the Word of God is perfect and flawless (Pss. 12:6; 18:30; 19:7‑11).
Bible scholars refer to this truth as the infallibility of Scripture.
Although scientists have long been sceptical about the Bible, they have not yet
been able to prove it inaccurate in anything it claims.
2.2. Why should I read the Bible?
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Why do you think it is important for believers to read the Word of God
regularly?
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First, you should read the Word because God commands it. Consider,
for example, these commands:
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from
your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do
everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful (Josh.
1:8).
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom (Col. 3:16).
The Lord has
graciously revealed Himself to us in His Word, and He wants us to know what He
has said! He has commanded us to read the Word. Therefore, Bible reading is an
act of obedience to God. Jesus said, ‘If you love Me you will obey what I
command’ (John 14:15). One way we show our love for Jesus is by spending time
reading His Word. However, Jesus did not command us to read the Bible to test
us. Whenever He commands us to do something, it is for our own good. Bible
reading is for our benefit.
Second, we need to read the Word because it is our spiritual food.
Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man does
not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” ’ (Matt. 4:4).
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual
milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation (1 Pet. 2:2).
Our spiritual health
depends on feeding our spirits. The Christian life begins with being born
again. We start out as spiritual infants who need to grow to maturity. Just as
a baby needs milk, so a new believer needs the Word. Malnourished infants never
grow into strong and healthy adults. Christian Johnson (source unknown) said, ‘A Bible
that is falling apart probably belongs to someone who isn’t.’
Third, we need to read the Word because it is an instrument of cleansing, a kind
of spiritual soap.
… Christ loved the church and gave Himself up
for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the
word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without
stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless (Eph. 5:25-27).
The Holy Spirit uses
the Scriptures to cleanse our hearts and lives, preparing us to become a
radiant and spotless bride for Jesus Christ. As someone said, ‘Clean Bible,
dirty Christian; dirty Bible, clean Christian’!
Fourth, we should read the Word
because it is a source of guidance for our lives, our spiritual lamp.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light
for my path (Psa. 119:105).
He has showed you, O man, what is good and
what the Lord requires of you (Mic. 6:8, my translation).
The Word helps us to
understand the will of God and to live in a way that pleases Him. Many
Christians spend their lives trying to discover the will of God for their lives
as if it were a mysterious hidden treasure, only to find that He is strangely
silent about it. He does not speak because He has already spoken. He has shown
us in His Word what he requires and what He wants. Unless we make an effort to
understand what God has already said, we should not expect to receive newer or
deeper revelations.
Fifth, we should read the Word
because it serves as our life manual.
The
statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple (Psa. 19:7b).
The Scriptures contain the wise
instructions of our Creator, who alone knows exactly how we ought to live in His
creation. They teach us how to handle each and every crucial life situation and
decision. God always knows best. If we live according to His instructions, we
are wise.
Sixth, we should read the Word because it is a divine love letter,
telling of our Lord’s wonderful and precious thoughts towards us, His beloved
children.
All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them
came to be. How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of
them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I
awake, I am still with You (Psa. 139:16-18).
As Christians, reading God’s Word meets the
deepest need and longing of our hearts, the need to know and experience His
perfect love for us. This is the most important reason for reading the Bible.
In it we meet the Lover of our souls, the only Person in the world who loves us
wholly, completely, selflessly! The better we know His Word, the more secure we
will rest in His love for us.
In addition to the
three reasons we need to read the Word, God also promises many fringe
benefits of reading and obeying it. Let us examine a few of these benefits.
Benefits of reading the Bible|
Scripture
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Promised Benefits
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Joshua
1:8
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we will
be prosperous and successful
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Psalm 19:7-11
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(1)
it gives life to the soul
(2)
it gives wisdom to the simple
(3)
it gives joy to the heart
(4)
it gives light to the eyes
(5) it gives great reward
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Proverbs 6:20-23
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(1) when you walk, it will guide you
(2)
when you sleep, it will watch over you
(3) when you awake, it will speak to you
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John
17:17
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it will
sanctify us
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Ephesians
5:26
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it
makes us holy and cleanses us
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One teacher suggested the word BENEFITS
itself as an acronym to summarise them. In God’s Word we find:
B read … for the soul
E njoyment … of good literature
N earness … to God
E ncouragement
… from good news
F oundation … for our lives
I nspiration … to believe, hope, and love
T ruth … as our guide
S ecurity … against doubt and the devil
However you look at it, there are
compelling reasons to cultivate a holy habit of daily Bible reading.
2.3. When should I read the Bible?
How often does God
want us to spend time reading the Word? The Word of God is our spiritual food.
How often do you eat physical food? Once a week? Once every two or three days?
No, you eat every day. In fact, most people eat two or three meals a
day. Just as our bodies need regular meals, so our spirits need regular
spiritual food. Yet many Christians think they can be spiritually healthy on
only one meal a week—at church on a Sunday.
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What does each passage below suggest about how often we should spend time
with God through His Word?
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Josh. 1:8
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Psa. 1:2
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Acts 17:11
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2.4. Which Bible should I read?
If you read
the Bible in English (or another language that has a long tradition of Bible
translation), there are many
different translations from which you can choose a reading Bible. One of the
biggest mistakes Christians make is to choose a translation which is not well
suited to their needs. One key to success is to choose a suitable translation!
So what is
the best translation? ‘The one you read!’ (Billy Graham). Some translations are
easier to understand than others. As a general rule, the easier a translation
is to understand, the more rewarding it is to read. As a result, you enjoy it
more, you understand what God is saying, you see its relevance to your life,
and you can apply its message to your circumstances. The problem is that many
Christians read translations which are difficult to understand. As a result,
they do not enjoy it because they cannot understand it and do not see its
relevance to their lives. The best Bible
for you is the one you can understand!
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Answer these questions about your own Bible reading—be honest, only you
and God will know your answers.
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a) Do you enjoy reading the Bible?
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Yes
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No
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b) Do you find your Bible easy to understand?
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Yes
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No
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c) Does your Bible reading add great value to
your life?
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Yes
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No
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If you
answered ‘no’ to any of the above questions, it is likely you are reading a translation
that is not suitable for your needs. To choose a suitable translation, you need
to understand a little about translation theory. In short, translators use one
of two methods of translation. Literal
translations try to translate word-for-word. This helps to keep the
translator’s interpretative bias to a minimum, but also makes the translation difficult
to understand because it uses awkward English. Dynamic translations try to translate thought-for-thought, using
modern English style. They are much easier to understand, but run the risk that
the translator may misinterpret the original.
Comparison of Literal and Dynamic
Translations|
Literal
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Dynamic
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Awkward English
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Natural English
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Reader interprets
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Translator interprets
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Hard to understand
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Easy to understand
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Good for serious study
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Good for casual reading
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Suitable
for experts
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Suitable
for everybody
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Many
Christians read literal translations when they should read dynamic ones. Often
they follow their pastor, but unlike him they are not well equipped to
understand the literal translation. What translations are literal and which
ones are dynamic?
The translations on the far left of the diagram are very literal translations. Although they are good translations for experts, they are not ideal everyday use. The New International Version (NIV) is the middle-of-the-road translation. It is an outstanding translation and one that many believers find quite easy to understand. The next group of translations are, in my opinion, the best to use for daily reading. If you speak English as your second language, I highly recommend the Contemporary English Version or the Good News Bible. The New Living Translation is my recommendation for first-language English readers. The Bibles on the far right are perhaps a little too dynamic for constant use, but they are helpful for bringing out the point of some passages in clear, simple language.
2.5. How you should I the Bible?
There are two main
kinds of Bible study: systematic and devotional. Systematic Bible study is in-depth
study of the Bible that aims at understanding important doctrines and themes.
Not every believer engages in systematic study. God has given some believers
the gift of teaching to enable them to study the Bible systematically
and teach it to others.
Devotional Bible
study is reading the Bible to feed your spirit and to hear from God. Every
believer needs to read the Bible devotionally. In the rest of this section, we
are going to examine ways of doing so. Which way you use is not important. What
is important is that you come to God with an open heart and allow Him to speak
to you through His Word. As one pastor said,
Devotional Bible study is not so much a
technique as a spirit. It is the spirit of eagerness which seeks the mind of
God; it is the spirit of humility which listens readily to the voice of God; it
is the spirit of adoration which rests in the presence of God.
The goal of
devotional Bible reading affects the method. What is the objective of
devotional Bible reading? What should happen to us as a result of spending time
in the Word? Jesus told us what our two main goals should be.
The first goal is to meet the Lord (John
5:39-40). The Scriptures point us to Jesus. He reveals Himself and His
will through His Word. When we read the Word, God confronts us in a personal
way—we encounter Him.
The second goal is to obey the Lord
(Matt. 7:24; see also Jas. 1:22). Our Bible reading must result in a response
on our part. By the way, please understand that we do not respond to the
command, we respond to our Commander. We do not just obey the Bible, we obey
the Lord. When we respond to the His Word, we are responding to the Lord Himself.
When you read the
Bible in your devotions, your goal is not
to master the Scriptures, but to meet the Saviour! Therefore, the first
principle of devotional Bible reading is read until you find something that you
do understand, something that speaks to your heart, something you can apply in
your life. You should focus on what you do understand and not get bogged down
with what you do not yet understand. In your devotions, forget the details you
do not understand and find the ‘word’ God is speaking to you for today.
I have found that there are four simple
steps that help me to get the most out of my devotional reading.
I begin by selecting a passage
of Scripture to read. Although there are no hard and fast rules, it is helpful
to read a whole book over a period of time, perhaps a chapter or two each day.
As I read, I look for just one part
that speaks to my heart, one portion the Holy Spirit speaks to me through. Then
I focus on that part and ask, ‘What is the point?’
What principle does that Scripture teach? What is the Lord saying to me through
it? Lastly, I ask the Holy Spirit to show me how He wants me to put it into practice. The Word becomes real to
you when you do what it says. Imagine if you responded in obedience to
one Scripture each day; within a year, you would be a changed person. You
should write the words (1) Passage, (2) Part, (3) Point, and (4)
Practise in the diagram above.
What kinds of things
should you be looking for when it comes to responding to the Lord? When you
read, there are five categories of things to look for. These are neatly summed
up by the acronym S-P-E-C-S. Is there any …
Sin to confess
Promise to claim
Example to follow
Command to obey
Service to render
We recommend that you use this method in
combination with two other helpful techniques.
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Colour coding. Colour coding is an
easy, attractive, and effective way of marking your Bible to make things easier
to find and remember. Use a different colour for each of the SPECS topics.
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Journaling. Journaling is
keeping a diary in which you write down what God says to you through His Word.
In your journal, you should write down three things: (a) verses: write out the verses that speak to you; (b) truth: write down the truth in that
verse that speaks to you; and (c) response:
write down what you must do in response to that truth.
2.6. Summary
The Scriptures are our Father’s preferred
means of communicating His will and His ways to His children. If you really
want to ‘grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’
(2 Pet. 3:18), you must cultivate a habit of seeking God through His Word.
This is the Word of God …
Supernatural in origin
Eternal in
duration
Inexpressible in
value
Infinite in
scope
Infallible in
authority
Universal in
interest
Personal in application
Inspired in totality
Read it through
Write it down
Pray it in
Work it out
Pass it on
