Sunday, October 20, 2013
am
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT
YOU ARE READING? (2)
Acts 8:30
The premise of our study is to determine whether or not we can
understand the Bible ourselves – without divine guidance (such as the DO
of the Holy Spirit) or the help of an educated clergy (i.e. the Catholic
priesthood, seminary graduates, etc.).
I am convinced that we can.
In fact God EXPECTS us to understand His word.
In our last lesson we showed numerous passages that demonstrate
this – Eph. 3:3-4, 5:17, 2 Tim. 2:15, 1 Pet. 2:1-2, etc.
We also noted that as you read the Bible you will find numerous
examples where understanding was expected – letters written to common
audiences, Jesus saying “Have you not read”, and Acts 17:11 where the
Bereans searched the scriptures to verify the teachings of Paul.
We also noted the consequences of believing we cannot understand
God’s word – 1) God is the author of confusion; 2) The Bible is
irrelevant; 3) We cannot truly know how to be saved or to please God (we
are left to guess); and 4) True unity cannot be achieved.
Since God expects us to understand His word, HOW do we
understand it? In our lesson
this morning we will notice some things to keep in mind that will help
us understand God’s word.
a.
We must approach it with
the realization that we can understand it. Realize that God wants you to
understand. The purpose of this
study is to establish this fact!
b.
Approach your study with
proper motive.
i.
There are many who
approach the study of God’s word with improper motives.
Some approach His word:
1.
To validate what they
already believe.
Far too many approach the word of God with preconceived ideas and
prejudice. Often there is no
intention to change. There
are some that regardless of what the word of God says, they will seek a
way around it.
2.
With emotion over truth
– far too many approach their study of God’s word with human emotions
and reasoning. It is the way
of man that seems right (Prov. 14:12).
Emotions so often stand in the way of truth!
Because there are difficult
subjects that might require difficult decisions if obeyed.
Rather than accepting truth, some will study to find a way to
justify some personal issue.
Examples of this include MDR, hell is real, many will be lost, a family
member, etc. or something they just don’t want to give up. “I know that
God doesn’t want me to do that”
3.
Appealing to human
authority –
far too many today put more trust in a man than they do the Bible.
They appeal to what is popular
over truth.
I am convinced that the main reason there so much division in the
religious world today is because men seek to please me rather than God.
And far too many don’t really want to know the truth – they want
what is popular and that which comes with the least amount of sacrifice
and inconvenience. And
as has ALWAYS been the case, there is someone willing to give them what
they want. Paul warned
Timothy in his preaching to beware of such – 2 Tim. 4:2-4
4.
Apathy and Indifference
– some approach God’s word with a half-hearted attitude.
IT is a chore or part of a check-list to make it to heaven.
Some will be content with superficial knowledge.
Some engage in lazy or sloppy study – i.e. no fact checking, no
concern for context, etc.
5.
As a hobby
– some “study” the Bible as entertainment – they are looking for the
discrepancies or to pick it apart, as just another philosophy among
many, for trivial reasons (counting words, numerology, hidden codes,
etc.).
ii.
The proper motive –
1.
To learn how to fully
please God –
if we have even an elementary understanding of God’s grace and what He
has done for us, we will want to serve and please Him.
Colossians 1:10, “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully
pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the
knowledge of God;”
1 Thessalonians 2:4,
“But as we have been approved
by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as
pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.” ()
1 Thessalonians 4:1–2, “Finally
then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should
abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk
and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through
the Lord Jesus.”
2.
To make sure of your
salvation – 2
Pet. 1:10, “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your
call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never
stumble;”
Understanding our
purpose, we ought to want to go to heaven more than anything on this
earth. But how do we make
sure of our salvation? The
answer is through God’s word.
1 John 5:13, “These
things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God,
that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue
to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
Ephesians 1:17–18, “that
the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you
the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of
your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope
of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in
the saints,”
There are so many passages that appeal to making sure we stand where we
ought to in His eyes – Eph. 4:15-16 speaks of being taught so that we
are not tossed to and fro; 1 John 4:1 tells us to test the spirits; etc.
3.
To be better equipped to
teach others
–
1 Pet. 3:15,
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be
ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope
that is in you, with meekness and fear;”
IF we love God as we ought to, we will realize that HE wants us to share
it with others. And among
the warnings we have is that we must ensure we are not leading others
astray (cf. Jas. 3:1). That
is only accomplished through a proper understanding of His word.
c.
Desire to learn –
i.
Having proper motives,
we also need desire. A
craving to be right before Him.
ii.
Jesus taught in Matthew
5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For
they shall be filled.” Do we hunger and thirst to be right with Him?
iii.
Like the pearl of great
price – Matt. 13:45-46 – we need to be looking and when we find it, we
will sell EVERYTHING we have to get it.
iv.
Be diligent in it! (2
Tim. 2:15) - The KJV uses
the word, “Study”, but the idea is to put forth due diligence in
accurately handling God’s word.
v.
Again, 2 Pet. 1:10 calls
for us to “Be diligent” to make your call and election sure
d.
STUDY!
i.
The word “study” means
to consider; to weigh the meaning. It
means to put forth effort to understand and to acquire accurate and
complete knowledge.
ii.
This is a whole lesson
within itself and it is the key to understanding God’s word.
There is a difference between simply reading the word of God and
studying it. We need BOTH!
We need to read regularly to keep the whole of His word fresh in
our minds, but we also need to study it in detail to grasp the full
meaning of the message and to grow in Him.
When it comes to UNDERSTANING what we read – study is a MUST!
iii.
2 Tim. 2:15,
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who
does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
The KJV uses the word “study” here and it is implied in the idea of
being diligent with the subject of the verse – “rightly dividing the
word of truth.”
iv.
We need to meditate on
the word (Phil. 4:8 – whatsoever things are true…”)
Acts 17:11 – search the scriptures daily
Psa. 1:2 speaks of the one who delights in the law of the Lord meditates
on it day and night.
v.
This is where multitudes
of resources are available – word studies, concordances,
cross-references in your Bibles, personal notes, commentaries, multiple
versions, etc. Using the tools
you have at your disposal can help you understand God’s word.
We often curse technology, but realize that for all the evil
abuse of it out there, technology can do tremendous good.
With our computers and the internet, we can look up vast
information on any subject or verse in the Bible.
Truly, we are without excuse.
e.
Respect its boundaries
- it is
imperative that we strive to not add to or take away from God’s word.
i.
1 Cor. 4:6 tells us not
to think beyond what is written.
ii.
Rev. 22:18-19, while
directed specifically toward that book, the message applies to all of
inspired writings – don’t add to it or take away from it!
iii.
Keep the teachings of a
passage or subject in its context!
iv.
In truth, this really is
the source of so much division today.
Man is not satisfied with God’s pattern, so he lets his own
wisdom get in the way. What
a danger.
f.
Intend to obey it –
i.
Understanding the word
of God is meaningless if we do not intend to apply it to our lives.
It is like the demons believing in the one God and trembling
(Jas. 2:19). IT is like
lacking love as recorded in 1 Cor. 13:1-3.
ii.
Jesus taught His
disciples in the great commission, to teach His disciples to observe all
things commanded (Matt. 28:18-19).
iii.
IF you love God, you are
going to seek to obey Him.
In fact that is what John said in 1 John 5:2-3, “By this we know that
we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His
commandments are not burdensome.”
iv.
Prov. 23:23 says, ““Buy
the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and
understanding.”
v.
“Take heed to
yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you
will save both yourself and those who hear you.” (1 Timothy 4:16)
g.
Accompany our study with prayer
–
i.
Finally, we mention
prayer. If you have the
proper attitude, you can turn to Him for wisdom.
ii.
James 1:5 says,
“If any of you
lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without
reproach, and it will be given to him.”
iii.
Matt. 7:7-8 Jesus said,
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock,
and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to
him who knocks it will be opened.”
a.
Are all things easy to understand?
i.
The answer is no!
ii.
In fact Peter spoke of
the writings of Paul in 2 Pet. 3:16 that they are hard to understand.
But note that he did NOT say “impossible” – they simply require
more effort.
iii.
One of the wonderful
things about the Bible is that you will never fully grasp everything it
teaches. Even a lifetime of
study can be enhanced with more study.
iv.
Also, there are some
things that we may never fully understand.
The secret things belong to God (Deut. 29:29).
BUT, let us realize that EVERTHING we need for salvation and
pleasing God has been revealed with simplicity – 2 Pet. 1:3, 2 Tim.
3:16-17, etc.
b.
What about the Eunuch as
he declared he could not understand?
i.
In this study I am not
saying that we cannot turn to others for help in understanding texts,
but we must take that which is said and consider it in light of truth –
don’t be easily swayed or tossed to and fro (Eph. 4:15).
Do like the Bereans and search the scriptures (Acts 17:11).
Philip DID teach the Eunuch.
ii.
As to the Eunuch –
realize the following: 1) The New Testament had not been written when he
inquired. 2) God provided
inspiration to deliver His message.
3) The prophecy, while recently fulfilled, had yet to be fully
explained, especially to him.
With this particular prophecy we know of its fulfillment because
of the New Testament. The
Eunuch did not yet have that.
But that does not mean it was impossible
to understand. In fact, the
Eunuch comprehended what the text taught, he just needed to know its
application. Philip gave it
to him.
And thus we can see that we CAN understand God’s word.
Not only are we told so, but we are told HOW to understand it.
That’s what the Bible says.
It’s up to you and me to apply it.
That is key to understanding the word of God – both for yourself
and as we study together.
In conclusion, we notice Proverbs 2:1–5 written by Solomon who
was blessed with divine wisdom above measure,
“My son, if you receive my
words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear
to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out
for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek
her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will
understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.”
Do you understand what you are reading?
IF not, why not?
Think about it!