How to Better Understand the Bible (pt 2)
Psalm 119
You know…I get pretty frustrated whenever I have a difficult time understanding something.
• And chances are…I am not the only person in this room who experiences that type of frustration.
Frustration can really get the best of us…whenever we lack understanding.
• And you know…I have a feeling that many of us know the frustration that sometimes can set in while we try to make sense of our faith.
This week…I listened to my cousin…who has been plagued with Diabetes since he was a child. Today he is about 50…he has trouble walking and using his hands. This week he said to me “you know…the biggest problem I have with my faith is that I can’t understand why God doesn’t provide a cure for people who suffer with debilitating diseases.
As I listened to him speak…my eyes filled with tears as I watched him struggle with that question.
I don’t want to simply tough questions…but I really believe that The Bible can give understanding to even the most difficult questions in life.
• You see, I don’t believe the problem is a lack of answers.
• I believe the problem is that we haven’t been prepared to find the anwers.
I don’t believe that the majority of people sitting in pews this morning all around our country today…are equipped in how to understand what they are reading.
• We are taught how to be saved.
• We are taught how to share our faith.
But for some reason, we don’t spend a lot of time preparing people for how to get the most out of their Bibles…to understand what they are reading.
Please know…this is my greatest passion in ministry today.
• But it is one of my greatest frustrations as well…figuring out how to do it without a spiritual mutiny.
You know, we are living in a day when having a building, having three services a week, and telling people we are open for business is enough to see the culture transformed. We have to engage our members [even if they don’t want to be engaged] in how to grow in their faith, day in and day out.
And in my humble estimation…that begins with learning how to understand what the Bible teaches.
Last week we focused on step 1
• Step 1 is to spend time praying for God to give us understanding before we even pick up the Bible and begin reading.
• We learn to pray that God would
o Open our Eyes
o Stir our Hearts
o Enlighten our minds
Today, we want to focus on two other disciplines that if applied…could really transform our lives by giving us greater understanding into the teachings of the word.
I. Trade Speed Reading for Meditating. 15,147,148
147 “I rise before dawn and cry out for help; I put my hope in Your Word.” HCSB
148 “I am awake through each watch of the night to meditate on Your promise.” HCSB
I think it is obvious from the Testimony of the Psalmnist….that he had a quiet time.
What we have comprehend the truth….that it takes time to develop an understanding of God’s Word.
• And when you begin to understand the INVESTMENT of TIME that is required.
• It will begin to effect your approach to reading God’s Word.
You see, what I have discovered is that you give time to those things that you deem as valuable.
• As Fathers…we spend time with Family because we value our families.
• If we value down time…then we spend the time required doing those things that enable us to relax.
• If we value cars….we invest the time needed to make sure we care for our cars properly.
Therefore, it makes perfect sense that is we truly VALUE the BIBLE as GOD’s WORD
• Then we will spend the time needed to study and understand.
But if our approach to the Bible is simply reading it out of obligation…because that is what a Christian is supposed to do.
• Then we are going to RUSH and not do what is required to really understand.
There are two things that are needed if we are going to devote the time Required.
A. It Requires a Sense of Anticipation
Now this makes total sense doesn’t it.
• Think about it…if you are going to approach your study of God’s Word right…you must believe that God is going to speak to you.
Let me ask you…is this how you approach your study of the Word?
• That you know that you will hear from God?
If you anticipate hearing from God…you are going to be more motivated to study
• And you are going to be prepared to write down what you learn.
I just believe if you take time to pray and ask God to help you understand.
• You are going to develop a sense of anticipation that you will hear from God.
• That will motivate you to go beyond reading to meditating on the Word.
B. It Requires Effort
Not just effort in reading the Bible…but in trying to understand the make up of the Bible.
• The Bible is such a unique book.
• It is made up of differenst styles of writing….for example..Poetry, Prophecy and Teaching.
Understanding is better reached whenever we spend sometime understanding…what type of literature we are reading.
• If we don’t take the time to understand this…it can get real frustrating.
For example…you need to know that a Proverb is not a Promise
• If you turn a Proverb into a promise…you are going to pull your hair out in frustration.
• You see, a proverb is a GENERAL PRINCIPLE that when generally applied bring general results.
• A promise is intended to be a guarantee and proverb is a principle that often yields a desired outcome.
Understanding what it is your reading takes effort.
• We must be willing to put the time into effort, so that we can have great understanding of
• These precious Biblical truths.
An Understanding of God’s Word is directly linked to the amount of time, effort and anticipation you are willing to put into Meditating on God’s Word.
• If you will invest in Meditating on the Word, you will begin to grow and gain greater understanding of what the Bible teaches.
II. Trade Associating with Following 1-5
The greatest lessons I have learned, the lessons that have changed my life
• Are the lessons that I have practiced!
In other words…if all I do is read but never apply….I am shallow and the lesson learned will soon fade.
Do you know how many lectures and seminars I have listened to?
• Do you know how many books I have read.
The other day I was reading a book that I read six years ago. As I read the book I noticed several things that I had underlined. But when I read the book this time it was almost like I read those truths for the first time but I knew I hadn’t because I had underlined them and even made comments by them. The reason the lesson faded was because rather than applying and living the truth…all I did was read, underline and comment.
For just a moment…think about how Jesus taught his disciples.
• He didn’t just teach and preach.
• He lived life with them and gave them opportunities to practice what he was teaching.
Practicing what you learn gives you greater understanding of truth!
Quickly, let’s look at what the Psalmist says about how our lives should be impacted by the truth, that will cause us to have greater understanding of the truth.
A. Walk in the Lord. (v. 1)
B. Seek the Lord. (v. 2)
C. Develop Convictions that demonstrate your commitment. (v. 5)
You see, I believe that the greatest thing you can do to understand the Truth of the Bible is to begin by practicing the Truth that you already know.
• And the more you Practice…Live out the Truth.
• The better you begin to understand the impact of that truth
• But you will also begin to understand other truths as well.
In Christianity…Knowledge and Experience are not to be mutually exclusive.
• They desired to go together.
• Do you remember that James teaches “Faith without Works is dead.”
Ivory Tower Christianity is a waste of time.
• Knowledge that doesn’t impact your life and actions is simply unsurrendered information.
It must break God’s heart…to see so many people who want to learn.
• But so few people who want to do.
If you want to GROW then you have to Do.
• You must live the truth that you read so that you not only comprehend it.
• But that you might also learn even more about that truth.
• And the evidence for learned truth is not in what you say you know but in what you demonstrate.
If you want greater understanding…go beyond the acquisition of knowledge by Obeying what you are taught.
Just Live It!
