#2 Dare to read the Bible
By WadeMartin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
TEXT:
Psa. 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Matt 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, YE DO ERR, NOT KNOWING THE SCRIPTURES, NOR THE POWER OF GOD.
2 Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; BUT AFTER THEIR OWN LUST shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. 4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables. Let’s not seek fables and stories,
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15. And how shall they preach, except they be sent?...17. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the word of God.
Matthew 6:33 Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
THE 23RD CHANNEL
Author unknown
THE TV IS MY SHEPHERD,
I SHALL NOT WANT.
IT MAKES ME TO LIE DOWN ON THE SOFA.
IT LEADS ME AWAY FROM THE BIBLE,
IT DESTROYS MY SOUL.
IT LEADS ME DOWN
PATHS OF SEX AND VIOLENCE,
FOR THE SPONSOR’S SAKE.
YEA, THOUGH I WALK IN THE SHADOW
OF MY CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITIES,
THERE WILL BE NO INTERRUPTIONS,
FOR THE TV AND VCR ARE WITH ME.
IT’S SATELLITE DISH AND REMOTE CONTROL,
THEY COMFORT ME.
IT PREPARES COMMERCIALS BEFORE ME,
IN THE PRESENCE OF THE TV GUIDE,
IT ANOINTS MY HEAD WITH HUMANISM.
MY COVETING RUNNETH OVER!
SURELY, LAZINESS AND IGNORANCE
SHALL FOLLOW ME AND MY CHILDREN,
ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE;
AND I SHALL DWELL ON THE COUCH
IN THE HOUSE
WATCHING TV FOREVER.
Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
I am pondering today, BIBLE STUDY and personal devotions.
The word of God does the work of God.
We practice our music, harmonize our singing, fine tune our programs, polish our speaking skills, build nicer buildings in better locations, as we focus on the physical.
All this is good, but we must not lose focus on what is important. The Word of God is powerful and the greatest tool to a sustained revival.
Mat. 22:29, Jesus answered and said unto them, YE DO ERR, NOT KNOWING THE SCRIPTURES, NOR THE POWER OF GOD.
My Harlequin Romance Theory is simple: we can read for hours things of little value -- then forget God’s word to us.
Magazines and books lie all around.
We read more of the TV preachers’ books, then the word of God.
To give unsought advice is the act of a fool,
but if I could say anything to you as a gray headed man, I would say --
BE A DAILY BIBLE STUDENT --
Lay aside the hit books of the successful, until you have enriched your life with the
real eternal words.
Stats say the average pastor reads less than 10 chapters a week from the word of
God?
Weak in the word means weak individuals? weak Churches? weak families? and a
weak society?
Read Matthew 22:29, failure comes from a lack of the word!
We are anemic, there is little forceful soulwinning, we misunderstand giving,
because everything takes priority over the Word in the church today.
I am not harping on the trivial, I am a daily Bible reader and have read it through twice this past year from cover to cover.
This does not count my study reading. We are better when we hide God’s words in our heart.
If I had but one opportunity to help, I would tell you --
YOU WILL NEVER RISE ABOVE IN PUBLIC WHAT YOUR BIBLE READING
AND PRAYER LIFE IS IN SECRET.
Prayer and Bible reading are disciplines, it is not easy to be a PRAYER WARRIOR, but prayer and the Bible are good investments.
We have tapes and books about prayer, we listen and read -- When all is said and done about prayer, usually more is said than done. We have prayer seminars and sing for hours? We take prayer request for minutes and pray for seconds? Where is my witness?
Our principle cause of leanness, comes from a lack of commitment to a regular, daily Bible study and prayer life.
We grow more and more skeletons, because we think another committee or a bigger budget will accomplish the work of the Lord?
GROW UP! God builds on those that know His Word and how to FAST AND PRAY.
The Word has established, some things can only be overcome by fasting and prayer. So we buy a book of the gospel stars and read why they have had revival. Call the church to dinner and see the crowd? Call them to prayer and see? Why?
We have a more polished, educated ministry than ever --
Again it is the closet prayer life that will tell?
I think there is a MISERY INDEX that God uses to get use to our knees and the Word.
When things get bad enough you will go to your knees or quit and faint.
For they that wait upon the Lord. .....
The USA will return to her knees and the altar or the misery index will increase.
I must say Heb.10:25 Forsake not the assembling together --
Church attendance is not optional to be an effective Christian, play hooky and you will pay dearly!
We have no guilt today by the crowd that visits church occasionally to ease their conscience.
Church attendance should be a way of life. Many go so seldom, they are not missed. Many families pay dearly because attending church has a low priority.
Remember: The Bible teaches: AVOID STRIFE AT ALL COST.
2Tim2:24;
Rom. 16:17.
So you won the argument, what did you win?
Bitterness always backfires.
If I discipline my ears, I will have less problems with my heart. Words have power? Life or Death? What are you releasing? HE THAT SOWS DISCORD IS UNWORTHY is a trouble maker. Watch out.
We must develop a system of self-evaluation, we need the Word to measure us. 1 Peter 4:17, For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God ... read the rest.
Every Friday is my self evaluation day.
I survey my plans, what I accomplished, what I should have accomplished.
Does not Col.4:17 say: TAKE HEED TO YOUR MINISTRY?
We need accountability?
If you never inspect work and you will see the work go down hill?
The applause of man becomes vanity?
My goal is Phil 4:17 -- for what I ask God to do for us, is that we will bear much fruit, for fruit for our account, to lay at HIS FEET.
LOVE NEVER FAILS AND WILL ALWAYS CONQUER ALL.
John 2:9-10,
1 John 3:11,
1 Cor. 13:8.
If you want to kill someone love them to death.
Feed your enemies, do good -- if you want to get rid of an enemy, make him your friend.
I sow the seeds of this lesson, I develop them, ponder them, I hope someone will read these words.
The test will come -- but God has a plan, as we are faithful to the Word, pray, and faithful to attend church, our living shall not be in vain. May we always find our heart on God’s Altar!
We are a product of our choices.
We choose to be with our family or do something else?
We choose to read the Bible, or something else?
We choose to pray and be faithful or something else?
Are we making the right choices?
Could we do a little more?
Dirty lives from dusty Bibles grow.
His servant,
Wade Martin Hughes, Sr
Kyfingers@aol.com
For my time and investment I ask: Please pass this on if you can.
