Sermon Central
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Observing The Scripture Series
Contributed by Neal Gray on Jan 12, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: We can hear God through His Word. But, like learning the basics of how to read; we must learn the basics of how to hear what God is saying. The first major step is to osbserve what God says through the Scripture.
"Hearing God Through Bible Study"
This Lesson: Reading the Bible, and Observing What the Scripture Says
Author: Dr. Neal Gray
Purpose: We can hear God through His Word. But, like learning the basics of how to read; we must learn the basics of how to hear what God is saying. The first major step is to osbserve what God says through the Scripture.
INTRODUCTION
It Is Time for You
Look, you’ve been in church for quite awhile now. And it’s time to admit the one very sad fact: you really don’t know how to study the Bible!
But I say this to you, too. It probably isn’t your fault. You haven’t been taught how to read and study the Bible; you haven’t been trained how to hear God through His Word.
==> Well...it’s time for you to grow in this vitally important spiritual activity.
The Scripture Is Meant for You
Our Great God intends for the Scripture to help you. Listen to what the Apostle Paul wrote to the young Pastor Timothy:
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
Through the Bible...
* We find the way of salvation in Christ Jesus
* We hear God’s inspired Word
* We correct our misconceptions, and,
* We learn how to live holy righteous lives.
==> Let’s read the Scripture, and learn, and hear--because God intends for the Scripture to help you.
READ THE SCRIPTURE!
Read the Bible!
First things first. The first thing you must do to hear God through the Bible is to READ THE BIBLE! You simply won’t understand the Bible if you don’t read it.
Let’s consider some of the attitudes which will hinder or help you.
Faulty Attitudes
As one Bible scholar has stated, "Too many people suffer from an inferiority complex when they approach Bible study."
The DEFEATED: I won’t be able to understand anything anyway, so why try to study the Bible?
The NEGATIVE: I would like to learn how to study the Bible better, but I doubt if anything I discover would be any good or right. I am afraid to express my ideas I find in the Bible because I fear they will be wrong.
The CLOSED HEART: I don’t believe everything the Bible teaches. Since it was written so many hundreds of years ago, how can it have any value today? So why study it?
The LAZY: I suppose if I tried I could understand more than I do, but what I read seems rather hard and dull. I don’t know if I want to invest the energy to learn how to study.
Helpful Attitudes
Okay, let’s say, "Phooey," on those bad old faulty attitudes and say, "Yes," to some helpful attitudes.
The POSITIVE: I want to learn how to study the Bible. No doubt I will have trouble learning some of the Bible study skills. I am sure there will be things in the Bible I’ll not understand. But I believe that through the help of the Holy Spirit I too can learn how to gain insight into God’s Word.
The RECEPTIVE: God asks of me only an open heart and an open mind so that He can reveal Himself and His truths to me. I don’t have to understand everything.
The EXPECTANT: I am coming to God’s Word to let Him speak to me. It is good to know that I don’t have to inject ideas into my reading or to try to squeeze truths out of it. As I study and pray, I believe that the message in any Scripture passage will unfold itself to me.
The FAITHFUL: I cannot expect much from Bible study unless I am willing to invest some energy and discipline in the study. I realize that God has placed a price on His Word: faithfulness and diligence in study.
Start Reading the Bible Today
With your desire to hear God in His Word, today is the right day to begin reading His Word.
19 "We have also A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 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 1:19-21)
