Bible Meditation - Lesson 01 |
01. THE BIBLE
The Bible is God speaking to us through His written word. It is organized into 66 separate sections, called "books", which were written over a period of about four thousand years, by approximately 40 writers. Yet, the Bible is perfectly consistent, because all the writing is inspired by God… He wrote it! The purpose of the Bible is to show us how we are to live, for 2nd Timothy 3:16 says: "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
The Bible is divided into two sections called the 'Old Testament' and the New Testament'. The Old Testament covers the time before Jesus came to earth in human form, and the New Testament tells of Jesus' life and teaching.
While there are several English translations of the ancient manuscripts that make up the Bible, we at Mission Valley Christian Fellowship believe the King James Version and the New King James Version offer the best translations. A detailed discussion of the New King James Version is contained in the preface to the Bible that we offer to give to you.
Let us look together at the table of contents, so that we can better navigate through the Bible. Using this table of contents, let us find some passages in the Bible that describe our God:
Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." .
Psalm 31:5: "Into your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, 0 Lord God of truth."
Psalm 88: 1: "0 Lord, God of salvation, I have cried out day and night before you."
Exodus 20:5: "You shall now bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God is a jealous God."
John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
1 Corinthians 15:1-4: "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."
Psalm 119: This Psalm is all about the Scriptures. As we turn to it, we can see that we are blessed when we keep God's laws.
As we read and study the Bible, God will teach us, will lead us, will guide us, and will bless us. This is a life-long process, not just a matter of 'speed-reading' through the Bible one time. God, in His timing, will reveal meaning from the Scriptures as He wills and as you are ready to receive new insight, wisdom and knowledge. We are told to 'search the Scriptures' - that is, to diligently study them for meaning. Each reading often reveals new insight. We cannot know God without doing this.
Reasons For Spending Time In The Bible:
 Studying the Bible is necessary for our spiritual growth. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Studying the Bible keeps us spiritually strong. (Psalm 119:9-18).
Studying the Bible makes a scripture a central part of our lives. (Deuteronomy 11:18-20)
Studying the Bible helps us apply its truth to our lives. (Psalm 1:1-3)
Studying the Bible, cleanses our soul, as it is said in Ephesians 5:26: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word."
This cleansing occurs in three areas:
The Bible Can Cleanse Us From Wrong Thoughts:
Sometimes we can be tempted to thing critically of others; God's word can prevent this (Psalm 1:2). On other occasions, fearful thoughts may race through our minds; the Scriptures will prevent this also (Joshua 1:8). In fact, the Bible will establish our total thought-life if we allow to do so (Philippians 4:8, 2 Peter 1:5).
The Bible Can Cleanse Us From Wrong Words:
In James 1:22-26, and Psalm 119:172, we can see the necessity of dependence upon the Scriptures to keep our words true. |
The Bible Can Keep Us From Wrong Actions:
Jesus promised us that this would be true, in John 15:3. Therefore, God's word will keep us from wrong thoughts, words, and actions; or else wrong thoughts, words and actions will keep us from God's word.
God's Word In The Bible "Confirms".
The word "confirms" means to fully establish a truth or a fact in our own hearts.
The Bible Confirms Our Salvation:
Jesus said: "Most assuredly, Is ay to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." John 5:24.
The Bible Confirms The Hand Of God In All Our Bitter Disappointments:
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.
The Bible Confirms Our Forgiveness When We Sin:
Repeatedly the Bible assures us that all confessed sin is instantly and eternally forgiven. Psalm 32:5; Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 38:17; 1 John 1:9; and Psalm 51 are just a few places.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.
Whenever the Bible is silent on a topic, then we are also silent. We do not give our opinions, or attempt to second-guess God. We believe that the Bible alone and in its entirety is the word of God.
For as the rain comes down, and he snow from heaven, And do not return there, but water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. - (Isaiah 55:10-11)
How To Study The Bible?
Now that you are a Christian, a good habit to form is to study the Bible daily. Here are some basic techniques necessary for effective Bible Study".
Pray For Wisdom And Understanding:
Prayer is essential to gaining wisdom and understanding when you read God's word. Through prayer, you can approach God and acknowledge your incomplete knowledge of His word, as well as your need for Him to open your heart to his instruction. Only God can give you the wisdom necessary to understand His word. Therefore, begin each study with prayer.
Read In An Orderly Manner:
If you received a letter and you read only a few sentences here and there, the letter would not make sense to you. The same holds true when you read the Bible. You would end up with poor understanding and with misinterpretation of God's message.
You need to discipline yourself to read the Bible in an orderly manner. One way to do this is to use an established reading plan, which lists Scripture passages to be read in a certain order. Some plans break the whole Bible down into 365 daily readings, but there are other plans.
For now, you may want to start with the Gospel of John. This Gospel was written so that we might believe that Jesus is God in human form. Then, read the rest of the New Testament, and then the Old Testament, where you will see the coming of Jesus foreshadowed.
Meditate On God's Word And Ask Questions:
Thinking about what you have read cannot be overemphasized. Meditating helps you to discover the importance of the passage, and it helps you examine your life in light of what God reveals in His word.
Some good questions to ask are:
What is the main subject of the passage?
Who is speaking?
What does the passage teach me about God?
To whom is the passage addressed?
Is there any sin mentioned in the passage that I need to confess or forsake?
Is there a command given that I should obey?
Is there a promise made that I can apply to my current circumstances?
Is there a prayer given that I could pray?
Invest In A Few Good Resource Books:
The Bible mentions many ancient customs that are unfamiliar to us today; so much of the subtle meaning behind many passages is lost. Bible dictionaries and concordances are a great help, as are commentaries.
 Lesson 2
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