DUSTY BIBLES LEAD TO DIRTY LIVES
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
REGRETS, I HAVE A FEW?
As I survey my life, we consider what are some of the biggest regrets we will have when we stand before our Creator, the MIGHTY, ETERNAL GOD. I can only imagine one of our greatest regrets will be “I WISH I WOULD HAVE PRAYED MORE.” One of the chief reasons for our spiritual leanness will be identified as I WISH I HAD PRAYED MUCH MORE. The disciples did not say Lord, teach us how to pray… They asked Jesus: LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY.
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Lord, will you teach us to pray. What we need today will be gained by intercession. What we gain by intercession we keep by intercession. Prayer is a stress and worry relief valve.
PERHAPS ONE OF OUR LARGEST REGRETS WILL BE THE LACK OF BIBLE READING, BIBLE STUDY AND THE LACK OF TRUSTING IN GOD’S WORD.
Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
How many mistakes have we made because we don’t know God’s word? This lack of Biblical knowledge will also fail in doing God’s work. We miss many opportunities of trusting God’s plan because we limit God by not knowing God’s word. There is power hidden in the Bible.
The word of God does the work of God. If we are anemic in the word of God, we will be anemic in the work of God. We must arise and confess and acknowledge our weaknesses and correct this problem. Our enemy whips God’s people because we have not learned and studied the Bible.
COME WITH ME AND LEARN A SAD STORY?
In the late 70’s Kentucky had classes we called School of Ministry. Our teacher had pastored over 50 years. He had his PH-D. His class was wonderful and so deep. At the end of the class James Ellis our Superintendent opened the floor for questions. Several questions were asked. One question was asked: SIR, IN 50 YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL MINISTRY, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE? The room grew silent, the old preacher bowed his head. In a quiet moment tears ran down his face. He refused to look up. He answered: I CAN’T HONESTLY SAY I HAVE EVER READ THE BIBLE? There were tears and he replied: I WILL START TODAY CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM. He then asked the students to be faithful Bible readers. I promised myself that day to become a diligent Bible reader.
COME LET APPLY OUR HEARTS, WE NEED TO DO MORE THAN JUST READ THE BIBLE, WE MUST APPLY EFFORT AND STUDY THE DEPTH OF GOD’S WORD.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
It is a terrible thing to waste the opportunities of knowing the power of God’s word. We must focus our passion and concentrate on digging deep wells and doing our best to know God’s word to do God’s will. May we never bring shame on God’s work? Know God’s word in a balanced way.
MAY WE UNDERSTAND WE DO NOT DEFINE TRUTH? GOD HELP US NEVER COMPROMISE YOUR ETERNAL WORD.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
COME LET US REASON WHY THE BIBLE IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH.
GOD’S WORD IN THE ORIGINAL IS INFALLIBLE AND IS WORTHY.
GOD SENT HIS SON. HIS SON IS THE WORD.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Bible was written in HEBREW, ARAMAIC AND GREEK.
EVERY VERSE IN THE BIBLE CARRIES THE WEIGHT OF around 611,000 words, 31,002 VERSES,
1,189 Chapters, 66 books.
Of the 66 books, 39 books in the Old Testament, 27 books in the New Testament. While the Bible contains philosophy it is much more than philosophy lessons. The Bible is an accurate source of history, but the Bible is much more than a history book. God reveals his nature, the creation and his only son Jesus in the Bible.
There are between 35 to 40 authors depending on the source you read.
The time period of writing is 1,500 to 1,600 years.
So the Bible is a book of diversity yet there is a great sense of unity and continuity that reveals the Bible has been written by many hands under the anointing and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible reveals the cleansing power of the blood of the lamb. The Bible teaches us to TRUST GOD AND HIS PLAN.
The Bible does more than containing the word of God. The Bible is the word of God.
The Bible is full of personal LOVE LETTERS. Non-Christians can never fully understand the Bible with the carnal mind.
The word Bible comes from TA BIBLICA, WHICH MEANS THE SCROLLS.
The Bible is written by a wide variety of characters. Their professions greatly vary. Some were educated, some were uneducated, and some of the writers were kings, political leaders, farmers, fishermen, teachers, priest and doctors. The common factor was hands of man anointed by the Holy Spirit to pen God’s word.
The Bible is likened unto seeds, food (depending on milk not the meat.)
Study some amazing facts.
Psalms 118 is the middle chapter of the Bible. There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118. There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118.
If you add 594 + 594= 1,188. … Psalms 118:8 is the very verse in the middle of the Bible.
Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
The Old Testament contains 12 books of history, 12 books of minor prophets, 5 books of the law, 5 books of the major prophets for a total of 39 books in the Old Testament.
The longest book of the Bible is Jeremiah. The shortest book of the Bible is 3rd John.
There are 185 songs in the Bible. There are 21 dreams.
The Bible is translated into 532 languages. Partially into 2,883 languages.
Women spoke 14,056 words in the Bible.
The oldest man in the Bible was 969, METHUSELAH. Two men of the Bible never died: ENOCH, ELIJAH.
The words Trinity, Rapture and demon are not in the King James Version.
NOW LET US CONSIDER THE NEW TESTAMENT.
We speak in English, what language does God speak? God speaks in the language of Jesus. The very nature of God speaks in love. So Jesus speaks to us in love.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
In college I had an atheist professor. He suggested to us if the Bible is true: GOD IS LOVE. Everyone said: YES! He kept saying if the Bible is true and God so loves us, He would never send us to hell. I said: You are right, God has never sent anyone to hell. All that are in hell, men, women or children are there because they did not believe the Bible nor did they trust the power of God’s word. God’s word clearly teaches usto keep the commandments and love people.
Paul wrote all but 8 books of the New Testament.
3 books of the New Testament were written by John.
2 were written by Peter.
1 book was written by James the brother of Jesus.
There is no conclusion as to who wrote Jude and Hebrews.
2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
There are some great themes of the New Testament.
1. Jesus Christ is the only high priest that leads us into the Holy of Holies.
2. Faith without works is dead.
3. Jesus is the son of man and the son of God.
4. The New Testament says we will be judged by two measures. If we keep God’s commandments and if we have love for one another.
All of history hinges on the virgin birth, the life of Jesus, the death on the cross, the burial in a borrowed tomb,
the resurrection and the ascension.
The highest price paid for a Bible was the Gutenberg Bible was $14 million.
That is not the highest price paid… many have given their lives for the Bible.
God is not asking you to die for the Bible. He is asking you to live for the Bible. If you own a Bible you are blessed. A closed dusty Bible will lead to dirty lives. Families suffer today because there is little value placed on Bible study. We send our kids 35 hours a week to school, but we refuse one hour a week to Sunday School?
Our kids spend hundreds of hour watching television, on the cell phone and on the computer. What about eternal values? Our society suffers greatly because we don’t know the word of God and the power the Bible contains. We need to go back to the Bible.
CONCLUSION: Why would we go to all this effort to introduce the importance of the Bible? I want you to faithfully read your Bible. I don’t desire to be offensive, but if you read the Bible it will scare the hell out of you. The Bible takes us from the beginning of time to the last battle, ARMAGEDDON and the end of time as we know it. Are you ready?
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psalm 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
7 days without reading your Bible makes ONE WEAK. The anti-Christ is coming, we need to know God’s word! Be diligent and faithful to daily Bible reading and study.
Do you know what the last word of the Bible is? AMEN.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Please teach others how important Bible reading and study is in the light of eternity.
