Faithshapers
Home | KP Duty | Setup For Success | Basic Training 1 | Basic Training 2 | Basic Training 3 | Camouflage Christian Life | Strength Training | Seize Control | Show What You Value | Survival Skills | Daily Diligence | Self-Defence | Spritual Warfare | Boot Camp | Secret Weapons | Maintenance Maneuvers
Self-Defence

Defend yourself against unexpected challenges and the Devils self-sabotage

WHAT IS THE BIBLE? AN INTRODUCTION

The Bible is unlike any other book that you will ever read.  That is because it is the Word of our Creator and our Savior.  The Bible was designed by God to help us to live our lives according to His purpose.  The Bible is part instruction book, counseling book, history book and any other type of book you might try to read.  As a Christian the Holy Spirit works through us to help open our eyes to what God wants us to know in the Bible

 

In 1 Corinthians 2:4 it states, “ A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised”.  Non-Christians can read the Bible but they are handicapped to what is contained there because they do not have the guidance and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit that is reserved for those that have accepted and believed in Christ.

 

You should see as a Faithshaper how important reading the Bible is.  To a Christian, being able to go to and understand the Bible is a privilege granted by God yet many fail to even read the Bible let alone try to understand it.  Why?

  1. Many Christians do not see BIBLE STUDY as an important element in their walk with Christ
  2. New Christians find it difficult getting started in Bible Study because they do not know where to begin.
  3. There is no understanding of BIBLE STUDY as an important duty, one that the Bible emphasizes in verses such as Acts 2:42 and I1 Peter 2:2
  4. Some Christians even claim they do not have the tile to do any type of meaningful BIBLE STUDY

 

I. WHY BIBLE STUDY IS IMPORTANT!

 

    1. IT WILL PREVENT ANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS

Most misunderstandings happen because we do not listen to what is being said or what we are being told to do.  Still others create misunderstandings by twisting the truth to prove their point of view.  It is the same with God’s Word people slander God by twisting His Word to meet their own agendas. Still others dishonor God by ignoring the truth that is found there and then creating their own truths to satisfy their own needs and desires.

 

Still others run around declaring God said this or that when they themselves have never really read the Bible. The problem is that a half-truth or a twisted truth is worse than no truth at all.  That is why as Christians we need to always discern the truth as it is written in God’s Word.  That is where the Bible comes in.

 

God wrote the Bible to prevent any misunderstandings about who God is and what He desires from us.  It is up to us to prevent any misunderstandings by reading His Word and allowing what is written there in order to sharpen our hearts and spiritual focus.  If you do not read the Bible you may end up fashioning God into someone He is not and you would not want to do that.  If you want to see the results of fashioning God into your image not the image found in the Bible read Exodus 32 and see how ell it worked out for the Israelites. 

           

    1. WE NEED TO LIVE OUR LIVES BY THE TRUTH

John 17:17 says that God’s Word is truth”.  What does this mean to you?  To me it means that when I need to find out if something is true I can go to the Bible, pray for God’s guidance and look for the truth in His Word.  Not using God’s Word for guidance is like trying to drive a car with no steering wheel.  You either are going to crash go in circles or just flat out not going to get anywhere.

 

Even with the revelation that we need to live our lives by the truth in God’s Word there are still plenty of people who get mad at the idea that God is telling them how to live their lives.  Who knows maybe you are one of them.  While it is true the Bible was written with the idea of showing us how to live, people who see the Bible as a burden are missing the whole point of God’s Word.  The Bible is the truth in a false world.  It is the steering wheel that guides us through the twists and turns of the treacherous mountain road know as life.

 

C.     THE BIBLE KEEPS YOU THIRSTY BUT ALSO QUENCHES YOUR THIRST

Jesus said in John 7:37 if anyone is thirsty let him come to Me and drink”.  In this verse Jesus is telling us that putting our trust in Him and what he says will quench our thirst.  Now since the Bible is also the Words of Jesus because as it says in John 1 He is God then the Bible will quench our thirst for knowledge of God.

 

Once we start studying the Bible, God’s Word is such that our soul will thirst for more and more knowledge of God.  This si because no matter how many times you read God’s Word in search of a certain truth there will always be something new opened up to your heart that will cause you to thirst for even more of God’s word.

 

What this means is that you read a passage once and you learn one thing from that passage but when you read the same passage again something new is opened up to you.  Also two people can read the same passage and the Holy Spirit will open up the Word in such a way that you both may learn completely different truths from the passage.

 

This is what causes us to thirst for the truth in God’s Word because you never know what will be revealed to you based on the needs you currently have.  Even when we feel our thirst has been quenched we still will remain thirsty for God’s Word because the Bible is a deep well of understanding that will bring forth living water and it is also a well that will never run dry.  Seek God’s Word in order to quench your thirst but be careful because you may find yourself thirsty for more.

 

D.     DISCERN WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE BIG AND SMALL CHOICES OF LIFE

We need to look in God’s word for the answers to the Big and Small questions that occur throughout our lives.

Ø       Who should I marry?

Ø       Where should I go to school?

Ø       Am I called to be a missionary?

Ø       Is it wrong to have sex before marriage?

Ø       What does God think about money, divorce, adultery, or any number of other big and small issues in our life?           

 

Even though you may not have any needs for answers at this exact moment in your life at one time or another you will.  This means that you will need to turn to the Bible or a Biblical Counselor for help.  Also the more of God’s Word you commit to memory the more you will be able to discern what is the good and perfect will of God when the time comes to make a decision on the big or small issues of life.

 

II. WHY DON’T YOU READ THE BIBLE?

A.      MY PASTOR COVERS THE BIBLE ON SUNDAY

1.       This is not a good reason for not picking up the Bible yourself.  Sure your pastor teaches you on Sunday, but why don’t you study for yourself.  Read 2 Timothy 2:15 and ask yourself what the verse tells you about studying God’s Word.  The Bible should be the first book you pick up in the morning and the last book you put down at night.  Oh yeah you should squeeze in some Bible reading time in between.

 

2.   It is our responsibility to study the Word of God in order to become so familiar with each chapter and verse that when we feel the devil breathing down our necks we will be able to do as Jesus did in the wilderness and quote God’s Word.  This way the devil will flee from our side and we be secure in the knowledge by the power of God we have wielded the sword of truth.

 

B.      I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE

1. This may be because spend so little time reading the Bible, or because you do not know how to go about studying it.  There are some Bible Study tips located on another page on the website.  They are offered as a starting point and you will need to develop a study plan that works best for you.

 

2. Some people blame their lack of Bible reading on not being able to understand what the Bible says.  With all the new Bible editions this can no longer be used as an excuse. One good way to learn how to understand the Bible is to get a set of commentaries or buy Bible with a built in commentary.

 

3. Maybe you do not understand the Bible because you have made very little effort in trying to   understand the Bible.  Some passages open up for you others take time and prayer before you get out of them what God wants you to know.  The main thing is to keep on keeping on.  Read, read and then do some more reading and studying. 

 

4. Read Ephesians 3:3-4 and you will see that Paul assumed that people could understand the Bible if they simply picked up God’s Word and read it.  The Holy Spirit was sent not only as a comforter but also as an interpreter.   If you let Him, He will open up The Word to you.

 

C.      I JUST DON’T HAVE TIME TO READ THE BIBLE

1. This is not a good excuse for not reading the Bible. People who do study are busy too, but they leave off things that are less important like the latest episode of your favorite TV show or the latest gossip session on the phone. 

 

2. As Jesus commanded, we must put the things of the kingdom of God FIRST - Matthew 6:33.  There is really no excuse for neglecting the Word of God.  In view of its importance to our defense against the Devil, we would be foolish not to study and memorize God’s Word as much as possible.

 

SOME PARTING QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT

1.       How long do you study the Bible

2.       Do you study the class lessons at home (when available) that you have in church?

3.       If you are not doing so now, are you willing to spend 15-30 minutes daily in Bible study?

               4.   What's your biggest problem in studying