#5 Dare to read and study the Bible to avoid presumption.
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
Some of this is repetition on purpose.
Repetition is a literary tool to stress important points.
TEXT:
PSALMS 107:20 HE SENT HIS WORD, AND HEALED THEM, AND DELIVERED THEM FROM THEIR DESTRUCTIONS. Psa.107:20.
Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous STUDIETH to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
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.
Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which LOVE (STUDY) thy law, and nothing shall offend them.
Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.
Psa. 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Matt 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, YE DO ERR, NOT KNOWING THE SCRIPTURES, NOR THE POWER OF GOD.
HE SENT HIS WORD, AND HEALED THEM, AND DELIVERED THEM FROM THEIR DESTRUCTIONS. Psa.107:20.
Today I continue to ponder a very basic thought: Bible reading and Bible study.
I for one, believe that dirty lifes grow from dusty Bibles.
We buy tapes, CD’s, video’s and books to tell us how to live and we never invest in Bible reading and study.
We often quench our thirst from muddy springs.
Growing up in Oliver Springs, TN., we often drank
out of the springs around the
house, rather than return home for a drink.
If my older brother drank first he would stir the
water and it would become muddy.
(That was OK, I did the same to him?)
We must guard our hearts and lives for the lack of
knowledge can kill.
We need to approach the Bible first hand, personally.
Jesus warned us: You do err not knowing the Word of God, or the power contained there in (Matt. 22:29, Mark 12:24.)
We have many anemic, weak Christians that quote many sources other than the word of God.
This is not necessarily bad to learn from the focal point of other teachers, but we must have the safety of first hand experience from in-depth study.
The lack of personal Bible study can limit growth and set many dangerous opportunities ahead.
I thank God for teachers and preachers, but nothing should take the place of daily Bible reading and study.
I think we need both, reading and study.
Here is my opinion of personal Bible study ... Daily Bible study functions like a sifter. The old sifter caught the bad lumps and let the good go through.
We are to try the spirit, 1 John 4:1, and what shall be the standard measure of truth.
Romans 3:4 There comes many false teachers and false prophets that will deceive many,
I call this SLICK WILLYs,
that will deliberately laugh and take the money to
the bank.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ( TO HAVE A RESTLESS DESIRE OR HANKERING FOR SOMETHING) ears; 4..... and SHALL BE TURNED UNTO FABLES.
We will see more and more ministries focusing on what people want to hear...
THERE WILL BE A CRY FOR GOSPEL ENTERTAINMENT,
make us laugh and feel good.
There will arise successful ministries that cater to
this need.
The only way to avoid this terrible cancerous growth
will be to know the WORD.
There is a line I often say that is so profound, THE WORD OF GOD DOES THE WORK OF GOD!
So your enemy, seeking to devour you and your family, laughs when we lack the real, balanced understanding of the Word of God.
WE ARE A JUNK FOOD GENERATION.
WE ARE A FAST FOOD GENERATION.
THIS ATTITUDE HAS GROWN IN THE CHURCH.
MORE DINNERS? MORE SINGINGS? LET’S HAVE DANCES?
DIRTY JOKES FROM THE PULPIT?
THE CRY IS FOR INSTANT GRADIFICATION AND PLEASURE.
WE LOVE THE PROMISES, BUT WE DON’T WANT TO HEAR
ABOUT OUR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
I am amazed at how our youth today, know all about Barney (they can sing his songs verbatim), they can quote so many poems and clever clicks, they can tell you telephone numbers, and quote commercials right and left,
BUT THEY KNOW NOT THE WORD OF GOD.
There is an enemy silently laughing, for the day comes when he will lead the youth into sex and drugs and rebellion, all because they don’t know the Word of God.
How do you think they will ever love and keep the commandments of the Most High, if they never learn them? It will be easier to forget about God and grow doubt, where there is limited knowledge of God’s Word.
Great men of God know this truth,
THE WORD OF GOD WILL KEEP YOU FROM SIN, AND SIN WILL KEEP YOU FROM THE WORD OF GOD!
David clearly states: THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST GOD.
TO HAVE A SUSTAINED REVIVAL THERE MUST BE BIRTHED A HOLY FEAR, AWL, RESPECT FOR THE BIBLE.
I once heard a great preacher do a touching sermon.
He quoted the "Wall Street Journal,"
The "Jerusalem Times,"
"News Week," and he addressed many fables,
but never once did he quote the Bible directly or indirectly.
I use many illustrations and examples, but they are absolutely worthless without the LIGHT of the WORD.
Paul warns young Timothy: "Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared (dried up, withered, parched, injured) with a hot iron."
We find many reaching to elevated positions in public and they have a lack of private devotions.
You can never arise in public above your private
prayer closet.
There is a danger of just doing Bible study looking for sermon material.
This can be dangerous.
The Bible must first be a personal tool to growth
and refreshment.
Burnout comes from a match being applied to dry,
empty days.
Our enemy is looking for EMPTY, swept, and garnished
vessels.
(Matthew 12:44) One cannot live by bread alone.
We must find the LIVING WORD ... THE RAMA ...
THE PERSONAL TO YOU WORD OF GOD.
Many study the Bible as a way to argue and debate, prove my point and prove you wrong.
This is against the Word, for 2 Tim 2:23 and Titus 3:9 warns about this usage of the word, avoid foolish and unlearned questions, contentions, and strivings about the law that gender strife and are vain and unprofitable.
One more reason we must be Bible students is to AVOID PRESUMPTIONS.
I have seen a church in trouble, because one of
the big spiritual leaders prophesied
the Pastor’s wife was having a baby girl, and when
it was borned a boy, the individual,
said God was wrong in giving a boy, that God
meant it to be a girl.
I have followed in the hospital where the preacher
said, "They will be healed by this
time tomorrow and go home and live for many years."
During the night they died.
I have followed behind a preacher that said,
"It will be a baby boy and he will arise to be
greater than Billy Graham."
The baby was a girl and born dead.
I have heard TV preachers say borrow a thousand
dollars and send it to me,
and God will get you out of debt.
Does this make sense? cents?
There arises out of the desire to see everything be
the best, a stupidity of assumption that God will
do as I say.
This spirit of presumption is not from the Word or
from God.
In Biblical days, they would stone to death a priest that misinterpreted the facts.
This tended to cause presumption of the word of God
to be limited.
Today, there is a cry that is heard, "I knew you
were wrong about that,
but I liked the message, so messanger try again?"
As we close this study remember a few points:
In the early 50’s, a man named Walter Bales wrote a sad song, Dust on the Bible, dust on God’s Holy Word ...
On the table side by side the Bible and the TV Guide? Which is our guide?
God may there arise a love for the Bible as never before.
May the anemic, lacking of force and a lacking of interest, be healed.
May the chant from the church and from the people of God be ...
Teach us O, Lord.
Know our heart that we may know Your Heart, Your Word ... bring deliverance.
PSALMS 107:20 HE SENT HIS WORD, AND HEALED THEM, AND DELIVERED THEM FROM THEIR DESTRUCTIONS.
We need the Word of God as never before to avoid the traps and bait of the enemy.
We will be limited in healing and deliverance with the proper diet of God’s Holy Word.
His servant,
Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
Enlarge my hands and pass to others
