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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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Depending upon the Holy Spirit for all you do?
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
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How are famous preachers sometimes effected by sin?
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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Bible Study how to read a bible?
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Chopper
Member
Thank you Ezra, that is very important as well. In fact Found One, You could give each book a title that you think each Writer see's each Gospel. Just like Ezra did. The Gospel of John = Love.
I posted 2 Peter 1:20-21 by itself because of its significance, and prime importance... and for the fact that most overlook it when giving their advice or opinions about how to approach the very Word of God for study, reading, inspiration or instruction. I was among them. Always going into detail about translations that you'll actually read, and the 21 day plan of the Gospel of John.
First things first as they say.
2 Peter 1:20-21 (NASB95)
20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,
21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
The Bible has a purpose. It is many things to many people. But its purpose is to convey absolute truth.
Human traditions which infest Bible study groups, churches, entire denominations, even the Body Christian as a whole to a certain degree impede the message God is trying to get through to mankind. All that truly matters is what the Holy Spirit (the author of the Bible) teaches.
John 16:13 (NASB95)
13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
And there is a validation process which confirms absolute truth despite the claims of the traditionalists who by adding to the Word of God or taking away from it deluge truth with any number of traditions making the Bible appear schismatic, unreliable, subject to any fool's interpretation. The key is to illuminate the scriptures with the light of the Holy Spirit who inspired them (much like the original laser light used to create holograms). For it is entirely possible to read the Bible cover to cover and miss what the Holy Spirit teaches.
Any earnest study of the Bible begins with eliminating human traditions even we personally have (without realizing it at times) to get to what the Word of God truly says and means.
In a very real sense, the Word of God can simply be contained in the 10 Commandments. But our interpretation, understanding, application, etc. quite simply go against God's simple meaning. The Word of God can be narrowed down to the commentary on the 10 Commandments Jesus gave:
Matthew 22:36-40 (NASB95)
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
37 And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 “This is the great and foremost commandment.
39 “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
"Law and Prophets" is an old Hebrew idiom for the entire Bible.
What a world this would be if we simply applied these two commands. America, when it was blessed and functioning properly summed this up in the secular version called the Golden Rule.
Back to the Bible:
In anticipation of human tradition, misunderstanding and just plain hostile interference, God designed his Word stealthily.
Proverbs 25:2 (NASB95)
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Deuteronomy 29:29 (NASB95)
29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.
Isaiah 28:9-13 (NASB95)
9 “To whom would He teach knowledge, And to whom would He interpret the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just taken from the breast?
10 “For He says, ‘Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there.’ ”
11 Indeed, He will speak to this people Through stammering lips and a foreign tongue,
12 He who said to them, “Here is rest, give rest to the weary,” And, “Here is repose,” but they would not listen.
13 So the word of the Lord to them will be, “Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there,” That they may go and stumble backward, be broken, snared and taken captive.
So now comes the critical process of determining IF the spirit you perceive as the Holy Spirit is actually the one illuminating the Bible as you study... since we are such poor judges of truth (the longer one lives the more we realize this is a fact)...
1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NASB95)
21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
1 John 4:1 (NASB95)
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Acts 17:11 (NASB95)
11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
See the cyclical nature of this? To validate scripture, seek the tutelage of the Holy Spirit. To validate it is the Holy Spirit teaching you, test the spirits by scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB95)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
In fact the Bible is the standard for truth. You've seen rulers as the standard for measure of feet and inches. This is the ruler for all truth.
John 17:17 (NASB95)
17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
Seek truth with the passion your heart desires or learn to create such passion... big part of not having the "hard heart" as it is described in the Old Testament is to passionately seek the absolute (real) truth, and to apply faith (belief AND understanding what God is teaching you as you grow in the knowledge of God). And you will be among those whom the LORD elects and chooses to set the world on fire with your walk with him.
God bless!
2 Peter 1:20-21 (NASB95)
20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,
21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
The Bible has a purpose. It is many things to many people. But its purpose is to convey absolute truth.
Human traditions which infest Bible study groups, churches, entire denominations, even the Body Christian as a whole to a certain degree impede the message God is trying to get through to mankind. All that truly matters is what the Holy Spirit (the author of the Bible) teaches.
John 16:13 (NASB95)
13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
And there is a validation process which confirms absolute truth despite the claims of the traditionalists who by adding to the Word of God or taking away from it deluge truth with any number of traditions making the Bible appear schismatic, unreliable, subject to any fool's interpretation. The key is to illuminate the scriptures with the light of the Holy Spirit who inspired them (much like the original laser light used to create holograms). For it is entirely possible to read the Bible cover to cover and miss what the Holy Spirit teaches.
Any earnest study of the Bible begins with eliminating human traditions even we personally have (without realizing it at times) to get to what the Word of God truly says and means.
In a very real sense, the Word of God can simply be contained in the 10 Commandments. But our interpretation, understanding, application, etc. quite simply go against God's simple meaning. The Word of God can be narrowed down to the commentary on the 10 Commandments Jesus gave:
Matthew 22:36-40 (NASB95)
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
37 And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 “This is the great and foremost commandment.
39 “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
"Law and Prophets" is an old Hebrew idiom for the entire Bible.
What a world this would be if we simply applied these two commands. America, when it was blessed and functioning properly summed this up in the secular version called the Golden Rule.
Back to the Bible:
In anticipation of human tradition, misunderstanding and just plain hostile interference, God designed his Word stealthily.
Proverbs 25:2 (NASB95)
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Deuteronomy 29:29 (NASB95)
29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.
Isaiah 28:9-13 (NASB95)
9 “To whom would He teach knowledge, And to whom would He interpret the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just taken from the breast?
10 “For He says, ‘Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there.’ ”
11 Indeed, He will speak to this people Through stammering lips and a foreign tongue,
12 He who said to them, “Here is rest, give rest to the weary,” And, “Here is repose,” but they would not listen.
13 So the word of the Lord to them will be, “Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there,” That they may go and stumble backward, be broken, snared and taken captive.
So now comes the critical process of determining IF the spirit you perceive as the Holy Spirit is actually the one illuminating the Bible as you study... since we are such poor judges of truth (the longer one lives the more we realize this is a fact)...
1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NASB95)
21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
1 John 4:1 (NASB95)
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Acts 17:11 (NASB95)
11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
See the cyclical nature of this? To validate scripture, seek the tutelage of the Holy Spirit. To validate it is the Holy Spirit teaching you, test the spirits by scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB95)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
In fact the Bible is the standard for truth. You've seen rulers as the standard for measure of feet and inches. This is the ruler for all truth.
John 17:17 (NASB95)
17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
Seek truth with the passion your heart desires or learn to create such passion... big part of not having the "hard heart" as it is described in the Old Testament is to passionately seek the absolute (real) truth, and to apply faith (belief AND understanding what God is teaching you as you grow in the knowledge of God). And you will be among those whom the LORD elects and chooses to set the world on fire with your walk with him.
God bless!
Chopper
Member
Right on JohnD. You are right, It's extremely important that our Holy Bible is not a bunch of nice words from nine men. I actually believed that until I got saved. Then I learned the truth. "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
Deborah13
Member
The way one reads it is their preference and may have a lot to do with how long they have been reading it.
For a new reader I would say read one of the Gospels as Obadiah said and then I would read Acts. The reason I would follow with Acts is because Jesus is still instructing the apostles and disciples. Then it follows on to the giving of the Holy Spirit and how the church, the Body of Christ, became both Jew and Gentile, one in the unity of the faith. So I think it is the basics of the new covenant church and it's earliest history.
raindog308
Member
Deborah13's advice is sound - you might start with Luke and then go to Acts, as they're written by the same author. Then perhaps the Gospel of John for a different, added perspective. Some of Paul's letters are also good to start with - 1st Corinthians, Ephesians.
Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Psalms 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Each person is an individual with special needs. If sick we seek help. Spiritual help and possibly physical help. Both ways are usually accompanied by a perscription. A correct diagnosis is needed and approiate treatement. The bible is able to give individual guidance. The Holy Spirit is one of prescribed methods of treatement. The evaluation of a true Holy Spirit experience is defined (so you will not get a wrong spirit). If our request is to God he will take care of it.
The perscription for my life may not be the exact one for your life. Oh yes we will share some basic needs, but at times you will need your own special care. Just as there are drug interactions, there are some scriptures that are individual treatments for special individuals. The Holy Spirit (sometimes through various means) can help you individually.
May God direct your life. May daily direction overtake you. As God knocks on the entrance door of your life, may you recognize his voice and open the door.
eddif
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Psalms 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Each person is an individual with special needs. If sick we seek help. Spiritual help and possibly physical help. Both ways are usually accompanied by a perscription. A correct diagnosis is needed and approiate treatement. The bible is able to give individual guidance. The Holy Spirit is one of prescribed methods of treatement. The evaluation of a true Holy Spirit experience is defined (so you will not get a wrong spirit). If our request is to God he will take care of it.
The perscription for my life may not be the exact one for your life. Oh yes we will share some basic needs, but at times you will need your own special care. Just as there are drug interactions, there are some scriptures that are individual treatments for special individuals. The Holy Spirit (sometimes through various means) can help you individually.
May God direct your life. May daily direction overtake you. As God knocks on the entrance door of your life, may you recognize his voice and open the door.
eddif
AndyBern
Member
I've read through my Bible many times, and every time I go through, it's like someone adding something new that wasn't there before. Here are some of the things I do with my reading:
It helps to keep a journal of your reading. I keep track of my daily reading using a Word document with the date, passage, and any insights or questions that come to me. The questions that arise can be answered with further study, asking some else more knowledgeable, or sometimes in a later reading. I don't shy away from difficult questions (i.e. apparent contradictions), because resolving them always leads to greater understanding.
It also helps to read with a purpose. My original purpose in keeping my journal was to find out everything I could about what the Bible says about God's character and nature. I want to know God better so I can relate to Him better. I still do this, but my journal also includes other things as well.
The number one help is to ask God to speak to you before you begin your reading, then 'listen' for His voice as you read.
It helps to keep a journal of your reading. I keep track of my daily reading using a Word document with the date, passage, and any insights or questions that come to me. The questions that arise can be answered with further study, asking some else more knowledgeable, or sometimes in a later reading. I don't shy away from difficult questions (i.e. apparent contradictions), because resolving them always leads to greater understanding.
It also helps to read with a purpose. My original purpose in keeping my journal was to find out everything I could about what the Bible says about God's character and nature. I want to know God better so I can relate to Him better. I still do this, but my journal also includes other things as well.
The number one help is to ask God to speak to you before you begin your reading, then 'listen' for His voice as you read.
brother Paul
Member
Reading the gospels (or a gospel) first is fine, but I have discerned that there is a reason why the Holy Spirit brought to us the order in which we have the books and that is because God's written revelation of Himself and His purpose and plan is like a grand tapestry of interwoven threads and when we read them piecemeal we miss too many relationships and purposes for these threads. It is progressively unveiled. Read it the first time from the beginning after first reading a/the gospel story. Read what you can and read it praying the Lord will speak to your heart and pllant His word deep in it and trust the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you into all truth. So AFTER the/a gospel start at "The beginning" reserving picky questioning for another time as many of the answers will be unfolded to you.
In His love
brother Paul
In His love
brother Paul
Chopper
Member
Thank you Ezra for that addition. Found One, Ezra is right. Sometimes you will see that Luke mentions some details of an event that Matthew does not mention. That's what Ezra is saying. Because of the different personalities of each Gospel writer, they see things that strike them as important, whereas another writer was thinking about something.
Don't get confused by what the different Gospel writers say, or doesn't say, The Holy Spirit used each writer, and their personalities to document exactly what our Heavenly Father wanted written in His Word, the Bible.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I'm always ready to help anyone get familiar with God's wonderful supernatural Word. The Bible is an extremely supernatural Book from the Almighty God....Personally, I use the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible.
May God richly bless your heart as you feed on the Words that the Person of whom you have come to love most of all, Jesus, the Son of God, enters your heart. The Scriptures are the spiritual food of God, dine well my friend.