DIFFICULTY WITH GOD'S WORD

DIFFICULTY WITH GOD'S WORD

Many of us have a hard time understanding God’s Word, the Bible. This is true. But let me share the observation  that the words that flow out of the lips of the Lord Jesus Christ are not complex, abstruse or pedantic. They speak to the heart and mind of the lettered and the unlettered equally well.

The first time I tried to read Scripture out of disdainful curiosity, and sadly with an unbelieving spirit, I did not comprehend anything. Eventually after coming to faith, the first time I undertook to have  a serious reading of Scripture,  I fell asleep. I think we’re not alone in this predicament.

The two un-named disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luk24:27) did not understand what was happening, until the Lord explained to them the truth concerning Himself.

The Ethiopian Eunuch, a high official, was reading the Scripture while riding in his carriage, and admitted to the evangelist Philip  his lack of understanding. (Acts 8:30-31)

The great Apostle Peter, gave an honest opinion about the teaching of his equally distinguished peer the great Apostle Paul, and came to the conclusion that some of Paul’s Letters were difficult to understand. (2 Peter 3:15-16)

So we are in the same company with these giants of faith.

I may hasten to add that some preachers are not effective communicators of the Gospel, which add to the problem of understanding.

The first step if we are to understand God’s word is to approach the Holy Bible reverently because it is God’s Message to us. No other source. Sola Scriptura. Reading God’s word with a rebellious, skeptical, or condescending attitude will shut the door of your mind to see the light of God’s truth. The Bible is no ordinary book. Scripture is mysterious, it is God breathed and only the mind illumined by the Spirit of God is able to know and understand and love the Word. And we are able to do this if we are BORN AGAIN. 

Second, we must be diligent in the reading and study of the Scriptures which requires the full utilization of interpretive tools. Our due diligence in the study of the Bible is strongly complemented by the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. This is hard to explain but many people of God share the wonderful  experiences of  suddenly receiving a flashing  idea, word  or message  which clarifies and explains Scripture. Remember God’s Word will never contradict itself.

Third, we need to approach God’s Word by prayer. Prayer opens the door because it shows our human inadequacy to know God.

 

 

 

SECRET THINGS

 

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” ( Deuteronomy 29:29)

There are things, incomprehensible, unfathomable, mysterious, which are beyond human understanding, and we cannot pretend to know them fully. These are what the Scripture calls the “secret things” of God. The marvelous Book of Deuteronomy tells us they are secret things which belong to God. The Lord God Almighty is the all-knowing, infinite and Eternal Creator and He alone has the power to hide, withhold, and keep these things which He chose not to reveal to us, mere puny humans. Of all creation man is the most pretentious, and proud of his achievements, ability to think, reason and create. God reminds us slow down a bit. You are not God. We are His limited and finite creation - and we need to understand that there are certain things that God chose not to reveal to us. And what He has kept from us He will not hold us to account. “The things revealed belong to us that we may follow all the words of the law” (Deut.29:29). God in His grace has given us His Word and has revealed many of His mysteries with us through His prophets, and yet there is a bank of knowledge and information, which belong only to God our Maker and Creator. He has chosen not to reveal these secret things.

There are secret things that belong to the Lord our God alone, and we are not to try to pry open the door of His understanding or seek to expose the hidden things of the future, but in His grace, He has revealed much to us and to our children forever – and our responsibility is to search out the deep things of God in His word and teach these truths to our children and grandchildren.

God has revealed all that we need to know in the Scriptures and it is unnecessary and impudent for us to try to look into the things that do not concern us. Let us rather study His Word to show ourselves approved to God.

God’s revelation through His Word, is powerful.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

The Bible has all the essentials of the life and power of God to do his work! Isaiah says that the word of God does not return void; it does his work, powerfully so (Is. 55).

Let us seek to be dedicated students and willing workers who do not need to be ashamed at His coming as we read, mark, learn, inwardly digest and appropriate the teaching that are in His holy Word of truth.

 

 

 

FIREE AND HAMMER

 

FIRE AND HAMMER

“Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”   

-Jeremiah 23:29 English Standard Version

One of the first events in my life which drove me to be serious, I mean really serious, not only in reading and studying the Bible, but meditating on it, was the visit of a humble servant of God, a small town Pastor who would every now and then call on us and see how we are doing. He had since departed to be with the Lord Jesus Christ, and I miss his inspiring presence. A small frail man yet radiating strong, confident,  unyielding faith and godly wisdom that he just lights up every dim shadow hanging over our hearts.

In one of his visits, he asked me to read Jeremiah 23:29. I have to confess that as a professing Christian I hardly read or was even familiar with the ramblings of this ancient Prophet who, the preachers say, often shed tears. So I read the Prophet: “Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like hammer that breaks the rock in pieces.?”  

Then he asked me to read from his Bible the same passage this time in Hiligaynon: “Ang akon pulong kaangay sang isa ka kalayo, kag kaangay sang isa ka maso nga nagapamuka sang mga igang”.

I was utterly awestruck. In my mother’s tongue the message left a sharper impression. God is speaking to me and telling me that His word is fire. His word is a hammer. I have heard hundreds of sermons in my church and sadly I could not remember any of the homilies telling me,  look, stop, listen, God’s word burns, devours, consumes, razes, pounds, smashes and breaks everything that is sinful, wrong, evil, wicked, erroneous, deceptive, false and untruthful in this world. The fire of God’s Word burns within us consuming error, devours our pride. Like gold refined in the fire the dross is consumed. God’s word is like a hammer.  God’s word hammers hard hearts. God’s word is able to judge the hardest of hearts and shatters man’s sin, rebellion and arrogance against God.  

Then this dear humble Pastor spoke to me. He said to me whatever you are going through right now is a purifying process, you will come out fine. Bewildering. I haven’t said to him anything about what I was going through, though, I had my worries, doubts, problems, struggles, insecurities and difficulties.   

This humble unassuming man of God was telling me fight your battles. Here’s  God’s Word. Fire and Hammer. God’s Word. Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

And so I started reading God’s Word with reverence and awe. I pray for wisdom that God the Holy Spirit will grant me illumination for God’s Word is not the mere word of man. It is able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.