How to Study the Bible (Part 1)

Hello Friends!

The Bible is an awe-inspiring book. However, as Christians, we must not merely admire it – we must understand it and thus be able to live by it!

In fact, the majority of people who have an opinion about the Bible – either positive or negative – do not understand what it says. Such understanding is crucial because the Bible is the very Word of God – a fact that becomes especially apparent as we study it! Therefore we need to know how to study the Bible...

This monumental endeavor encompasses four important aspects to consider regarding studying the Bible as we obey and in turn learn to live out God’s Word in our lives:

Reading

Interpreting

Meditating

Teaching

Please join us over the coming several weeks as we learn more about this very important aspect of the Christian life – Enjoy!

How to Study the Bible (Part 1)

Reading the Bible

Obviously, Bible study begins with reading. Yet, quite frankly, many Christians never get to that point! At best, they simply “nibble” at the text. Although they may often read books about the Bible or devotional materials loosely based on it, they don't read the Bible itself. Good Christian books and magazines that supplement our Bible reading are wonderful to be sure. However, there is no substitute for reading the Scriptures!

The Old Testament

There are thirty-nine books in the Old Testament. If you read about twenty minutes a day, you should be able to finish it in one year.

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, a comparatively simple language to understand. It doesn't have the nuances of Greek language of the New Testament. The Old Testament isn't a theoretical or philosophical language with a lot of abstraction. It is very concrete.

The Old Testament is a historical narrative interspersed with biblical laws, poetry and prophecies. It is best to read from Genesis straight through to Malachi, indicating in your margin or a journal the passages you don't understand. If you do that, you'll find an interest­ing thing happening: As time goes on you will be erasing many of your markings. Why? Because as you read and reread Scripture, you will have a broader perspective that will answer some of the questions you had originally. Incidentally, what you can't answer in your reading, you can study later with a commentary or other source that will provide for you the true meaning.

One potential cause for confusion in reading the Old Testament is that it is not always in chronological order. One resource to consider is The NarratedBible which rearranges the entire Bible in chronological order – a helpful tool. For instance, in it you'll read the Psalms of David interspersed at the appropriate times in his life and the words of the prophets as they relate to the kings in power at the time. It is helpful for those who have never read the Bible before or who want a fresh perspective.

The important thing is to be reading through the Old Testament on a regular basis, because you'll be amazed at what you learn! For as the Apostle Paul states in the New Testament:

For whatever was written in earlier times [the Old Testament] was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope – Romans 15:4

Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s continued investigation of How to Study the Bible…

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><

Caring for Orphans

Some of you know that Joe and I have not been able to have children. We got pregnant in our first year of marriage, but miscarried at 13 weeks. Since then, we haven’t been able to get pregnant again. For a while, we thought it just wasn’t God’s timing.

A couple years later, though, we were studying the book of Isaiah and I was challenged by God’s command to take care of widows and orphans.

Isaiah 1:17                                

Learn to do right; seek justice.
    Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
    plead the case of the widow.

James 1:27             Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Joe and I prayed about whether God was directing us to take care of orphans by pursuing foster-to-adopt. We attended a conference about it and then signed up for an official orientation class in our area, but the doors were locked when we arrived (2 minutes late, because of some slow traffic). We knocked on doors and called numbers we had, but to no avail. We took that as literally a closed door, at least for a time.

Four more years past, yet another fertility doctor visited, and we continued to pray about what God wanted us to do. So, last May, Joe went ahead and scheduled another foster orientation, but this time they came to our house. After many training classes and home visits, we were finally licensed for foster-to-adopt a few weeks ago!

Who else are the orphans, widows, or oppressed around you and me?

How might God want you and me to help those around us that are troubled, oppressed, or mistreated?

Alice

The Inner Voice

Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  Matthew 10:17-20+

For years, I never had an exercise routine.  Sure, there were times that I would start doing it for a few weeks and maybe even a month, but ultimately, it would not last.  Even health concerns raised by my doctor had not fully gotten me on board.  However when I started not feeling as well as I thought I should, I tried one more time.  This time, I measured my success focusing on overall wellbeing and not exercising.  When I did not feel up to it, this inner voice would say, “Ok, Kent.  You have to get out tomorrow and do it so you will feel better!”  That subtle change in the message made a wealth of difference.  In month number three, so far so good (someone check on me in June  J).

Witnessing for God is about trusting the Holy Spirit within you.  My pastor is passionate about winning others to Christ, and he is very good at it.  While I am passionate about winning others to Christ, I still need a lot of work at it.  Yet even though I struggle at and am not comfortable with doing it, I am not absolved from trying.  By trying, I realized I am not good at being direct (i.e. Do you know who Christ is?).  God did wire me to ask really good questions leading to others self-discovery (Why are you here with me today?  Why aren’t you happy?  What’s missing from this picture?  Could I share what I know with you?).  Your message and approach will be very different from mine and many others.  However you must trust the Holy Spirit within you (some might call it lending a voice to it) to be able to truly witness for it.

God did not give us gifts to let them stay idle.  He gave them for His glory such that each are to be used to as Jesus says, “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)  Let go of your fears and trust God to guide you where you need to go with others.  What is the Holy Spirit within you saying?  Who do you know that is waiting to hear God from you?  My prayer is that we share with others by submitting to the inner voice of the Holy Spirit within us.  Amen.

Restore my roar, Part 3

Daniel 5:13-17 “Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? Now I have heard about you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. Just now the wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me that they might read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not declare the interpretation of the message. But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Now if you are able to read the inscription and make its interpretation known to me, you will be clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.” Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription to the king and make the interpretation known to him.” (NASB)

Ah, the crazy hand story! During a large celebration the king (Nebuchadnezzar’s son Belshazzar) was having a great time until a strange hand appeared and wrote something on the wall. Unable to know what it said or meant, he went searching for someone who could help. Someone remembered how Daniel had helped his father, so they called him and offered him a great reward for interpreting this for the king. After he accomplishes this, Daniel is given the great reward – even though he does the key thing in verse 17, and tells him to keep the gifts – but he will still interpret. Here is where Daniel showed a simple step – it wasn’t about him. The first time he interpreted there was threat of death – but by now he was a known commodity, so there was just a reward for him to “do his thing”. But Daniel knew it wasn’t about him, it was about God. He wanted that clear – so he stated to keep the gifts. He knew that doing what God had gifted him to do under reasons of personal gain would change that relationship and possibly how God was able to use him. He wanted to maintain proper motivation.

If we want God to restore our roar – it must be about Him and not us.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Daniel’s Devotion (Part 10)

Hello Friends!

Welcome Back! Let’s continue our study of “Daniel’s Devotion” from God’s Word…

Daniel’s Devotion (Part 10)

The 12th chapter of Daniel's prophecy does have verses that are difficult to discern. However, most are quite easy to explain and understand. Daniel begins this chapter with a prophecy of a "time of trouble" and how evil the world will be at "that time" during the last half – 3½ years – of the Seven Year Tribulation Period:

At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book – Daniel 12:1

The phrase "such as never was since there was a nation" is describing the Jewish nation in that they will face "trouble" like never before in human history. This is an awesome statement if one is familiar with the entire 4,000-year history of the Jews. In fact, it will be so bad that the Lord will dispatch the Arch Angel “Michael” to intercede and protect His "chosen people". "At that time" the Jewish people will be delivered from total destruction at the hands of the Satanic Trinity; “Satan”, “Antichrist” and the “False Prophet” spoken of in the book of Revelation.

Then Daniel describes the "resurrection" of the "Old Testament saints":

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever – Daniel 12:2-3

These are those "wise" Old Testament Jews who trusted the Lord for their salvation during the time before the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. At this resurrection – end of the Tribulation Period and before the Kingdom Period begins – humankind from the Old Testament era will be resurrected from the dead – both those that had been saved and those that were "lost." The saved will be raised to "everlasting life" and will enter the Kingdom that was promised to the Jewish people. The lost will be held in “Hades” until the “Great White Throne Judgment“ when they will be raised to "everlasting contempt" and appear before Jesus Christ to be sentenced to the eternal death, and separation from God in the eternal “Lake of Fire”  spoken of in the book of Revelation chapter 20.

Daniel also verifies my opening statement that some of these prophecies are indeed difficult to discern:

Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things? – Daniel 12:8

But Daniel was instructed “Go your way” and was assured that the “wise shall understand” when it was necessary but that “none of the wicked shall understand” in those days:

And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand – Daniel 12:9-10

The statement "the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end" seems to again reference the Apostle John's writings found in the book of Revelation. 

And finally Daniel was encouraged with this closing passage:

But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days – Daniel 12:13

Wow! This is also a tremendous promise for us as Christians today! As was true of the Prophet Daniel, at death we too “shall rest” and will enjoy our “inheritance at the end of the days…”

May this 10-week overview of the prophecies of Daniel create in you a deeper desire to study the Word of God as it relates to Bible Prophecy – Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!

Thank you for reading! As you study the Bible in your walk with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I pray that you now a better understanding of God's "prophetic word" from the Prophet Daniel.

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><

Raise up a child

Proverbs 22:6

Start children off on the way they should go,  and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Something happened at my house this week that made my husband and I realize while we may not be perfect parents, we are doing something right.

Every night, for as long as I can remember, we have always tried to say prayers with our son before he goes to bed.  Now that he’s getting old enough, we are trying to teach him to fold his hands while praying.  Monday night, I sat on the floor next to his bed and told him it was time to fold his hands and say prayers.  I was expecting him to run around like usual, however instead he dropped his cup and came over to me, sat on my lap, folded his hands and as I said his prayers, he would copy words.  Let me tell you, it left me in tears!

Some of you have kids, some of you don’t.  That being said, how can this relate to your life?  You may think it’s clear if you have kids; take them to church, read the Bible with them, pray with them, etc.  However, each of us have an opportunity to witness to others, be it your actions or words.  Do others know that you go to church, pray, etc?  I’m not saying to thump them over the head with your Bible, rather live in a way that Christ shines through you.  My son didn’t sit and pray with me because I held him down, rather because he sees me do it every night and was copying my actions.

Thurs Devo - God Provides for His Work

This past weekend Joe and I went on a short trip and I packed some snacks (or lots of snacks, according to Joe). As I was packing the snacks and overflowing our food bag, Joe asked when I was planning to eat all these snacks. I said we would need lunch or a snack on the way out and maybe snacks on our flight back home. I wanted to make sure we had enough for any possibly scenario. As it often turns out, we ended up returning home with still half the snacks uneaten. J

God does not guess at what might be needed. He knows exactly what is needed and when it will be needed.

Numbers 7:1-4          When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings. He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils.² Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of families who were the tribal leaders in charge of those who were counted, made offerings. ³ They brought as their gifts before the Lord six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle. ⁴ The Lord said to Moses, ⁵ “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man’s work requires.”

After the tabernacle was completed with all the generous materials provided by the Israelites (as we read last week), God further provided for the transportation of all the tabernacle pieces. Since the Israelites didn’t stay in one place during their 40 years in the desert, each time they moved, the tabernacle had to move. It had to be disassembled and transported to the next location. So, God provided specifically for this part of His work, too.

God didn’t provide for everything all at once. He first commanded the people to give for the building of the tabernacle and then once it was completed he asked the leaders to give for the transportation needs. He provided for each step of the way, at the time needed.  

How will you and I trust God to provide for the ministries He’s told us to be apart of?

Will we trust Him to provide what He knows we need at just the right time?

We can look back and remember how He’s provided in the past as encouragement to trust Him in the future. God will provide for His work.

Alice

Stop Whining

“And say to the people, ‘Purify yourselves, for tomorrow you will have meat to eat. You were whining, and the Lord heard you when you cried, “Oh, for some meat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and  you will have to eat it.  And it won’t be for just a day or two, or for five or ten or even twenty.  You will eat it for a whole month until you gag and are sick of it. For you have rejected the Lord, who is here among you, and you have whined to him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’”  Numbers 11:18-20

My mom is an amazing woman.  I watched her struggle through getting a Master’s degree away from home while raising me through my first year in high school.  To make things a little more ‘challenging,’ she would be sick some days to the point that she was hospitalized for multiple days and even weeks.  Through all of this, she never complained.  It left quite the impression on me.  I learned never to complain about my circumstances.  That is not to say that I was always content, but whenever I find myself whining over a situation, I remember the incredible blessings God had given me to end up in that situation.  Then, it becomes easier to manage.

We must always focus on those blessings God has given us rather than the complications that may arise from them.  In today’s verses, God is answering Moses, who went to Him on behalf of the Israelites complaining about their food supply.  Here they were having been slaves for generations and both freed and witness to miracles performed by God, and they are now coming to God with . . . complaints about dinner?  It is amusing to read because it seems silly that the Isralites in essence would rather give up their freedom to have steak every once in a while than eat breaded wafers (manna) every day and be free.  But then I thought about it.  We all complain about some circumstance not realizing how God has blessed us to arrive at that moment (Why do I have to do this task for the job that I love?  Why do I have to go to this function for my spouse who is the love of my life?  Why do I have to forgive this person because God forgave me for far worse?).  This is the point.  We should always focus on God's love, grace, and gifts given above the challenges we are presented with because of those very things.

We serve a God of abundance who promises to provide all that we will ever need.  Sure there are times we have problems that we would rather not deal with, but we should never forget the blessings given us that put us in that very position for as Moses told the Israelites, “You ate no bread and drank no wine or other alcoholic drink, but he provided for you so you would know that he is the Lord your God.”  (Deuteronomy 29:6)  What problem(s) can you embrace today realizing the blessings that brought you to it?  My prayer is that we focus on the blessings we have and simply stop whining.  Amen.

Tues Devo: Restore my roar, Part 2

Hello,

As we come to Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and demanded that the wise men interpret his dream for him. The kicker was Nezzie’s (loose interpretation of the kings name, which is faster to type) didn’t trust the wise men – so he didn’t tell them the dream – but asked them to tell him both the dream and the interpretation. Naturally, there was a little bit of pushback to this idea. No one could do that. But the king insisted – and upped the ante to include their death if it couldn’t be done. Well, the word spread and included Daniel. When this word got to him -  Daniel 2:14-14-18 “Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king’s commander,

‘For what reason is the decree from the king so urgent?’ Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter. So Daniel went in and requested of the kind that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king. Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Michael and Azariah, about the matter, so that they might request compassion from God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.” (NASB)

God provides Daniel with the dream and the interpretation. As a result Daniel is greatly promoted, and able to bring his 3 friends with him. But where did it start? It started without panicking – but with prayer. He went to the king to ask for time – not because he was unsure of his next move, but because he just needed some time to talk with God. By having prayer being his first reaction, God was able to do a tremendous miracle.

When we are faced with situations – do we pray first? Or do we try everything in our own power first, and then when those things fail choose to pray? If you want to restore your roar, have prayer be your first reaction to every situation you walk into. Close communication with God will keep you in tune with how He wants you to respond.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill