"My Bible Toolbox."
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Begin by having the people pray for each other. (Have music ready, live or recorded.)
“If we don’t even get to a sermon today, that is ok!”
“Sometimes, you thing you need most is just a little bit of help!”
“Who here today needs a helping hand? All of us!!
“Who would like for a brother or a sister to help share the load you are carrying?”
“Let us bind together as a family of faith for needs here in this place!”
“Let us bind together and pray for those we love who are not here today, facing a trial or circumstance.”
(Coach the people to pray for each other’s families, their jobs, their homes and relationships.)
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
I. Introduction
I. Introduction
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The Word of God is truly Wonderful!
As we study Him, I say study Him, because it is not possible to seperate Him from His Word, we continually learn new and precious connections between core doctrines.
I am absolutely convinced that you will never reach the place where you have learned it all!
We should be seeing new and exciting things!
For example, I learned something this week and it really put some pep in my step!
It has to do with the High Priest service in the Tabernacle.
I shared it this past Thursday, but for those of you who were not here, I want you to enjoy it too!
Now it has to do with the garment that the High Priest wore.
And specifically, with the bells attached to the bottom of His garment:
And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about: A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about. And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the Lord, and when he cometh out, that he die not.
Now, there inside the Tabernacle, as the priest moved about, performing his service behind the veil, those standing outside the Tabernacle could hear the ringing of the golden bells.
As the priest lifted the veil and entered the Tabernacle, he was completely hidden from the view of the people!
If God had refused to accept the sacrifice that the priest had made for himself and for the people, He would have struck the high priest dead, and all the pople would have then had to bear the guilt of their own sin!
Tense moments, when the priest passed beyond the veil!
The people waited with bated breath!
Their acceptance before God was not a given!
Their acceptance depended upon the high priest successfully ministering behind the veil on their behalf!
At each movement of the priest, the bells pealed out the news that their high priest was alive, the the offering had been accepted, and that he was ministering before God to stay the hand of judgement from a guilty people!
What a beautiful sound then to hear those bells!
The people were assured that the transgressions of another year were “covered” although the priest was hidden from their view.
Likewise, our high priest, the Lord Jesus, left this world at the time of the ascenscion.
On the Mount of Olives, the disciples saw theier high priest disappear out of their sight as He entered into the Holy of Holies, in heaven itself!
Don’t forget: Whether or not we can obtain forgiveness of sin depends upon whether or not Jesus is alive and in heaven!
For two thousand years He has been invisible to His church.
How do we know that He is above, that God has accepted HIs offering, and that He is now in heaven?
If Jesus fulfills in every way the high priestly types, then in some way, He must send forth a testimony from the Holy Place in heaventhat parallells the ringing of the golden bells on the high priet’s garment!
And that is exactly what He did:
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Many of these had witnessed with their own eyes, the ressurrection of Jesus, but it was impossible for them to see Jesus ministering in heaven for them!
Their human eyes could not pierce the clouds and through the veil of the natural into that heavenly place!!!
But that day, even though they could not see Him, they knew that the glorified Christ was in heaven, for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit accompanied with tongues, announced the fact, just as the bells had told of the well-being of the high priest!
Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound:
They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
The heathen who heard the sound of the bells, who heard the sound of people praising God in different languages were not overjoyed, for they did not understand its significance!
It was kind of a novelty to them!
Two thousand years have passed and nothing has changed!
When we are praising God at the beginning or the end of service, or anytime, I understand that people think it is wierd at best and very strange at worst!
sometimes visitors even split before the end of service.
I get it! I don’t judge them! They don’t know the significance yet!
I realize it is because they do not understand the significance of the bells!
That’s why we want to get them in the Bible!!!!
Let the Word of God take root down deep, and soon, they will recognize the sound of the bells, the sound of our High Priest, ministering on our behalf!
That’s why we will always be: “A Holy Ghost Church!”
Listen, when we pray, the angels are rejoicing with us!
When you are speaking in tongues, it is more than it seems!
Not only is it a sign that God has baptized you with His Spirit, speaking in tongues is a celebration!
It is proof that Jesus Christ ever liveth!
It is proof, that even though you cannot yet see him with your natural eyes, He is ministering right now!
Your sins are forgiven!!!!
He fights for you!
He has sprinkled His blood on mercy for you!!!!
It’s things like that which makes our relationship with God rich in revelation!
How many more such, powerful, amazing truths live in this book?
They are waiting for you!
Let us then format our remaining time together today in the form of a class or Bible study!
II. Tools for you toolbox!
II. Tools for you toolbox!
Let me begin by listing eight reasons why people, often very good people misunderstand Scripture.
If you can avoid these simple mistakes, each of us will know more than many Bible College Students know!
Now I have mentioned this before and I will again, because repetition is the best teacher!
The first reason that people often miss truth is:
A failure to recognize the communication gaps existing between the modern reader and the ancient peoples of Scripture.
A failure to distinguish between dispensations or times.
A failure to recognize the differing covenants.
A failure to consider all the Bible has to say on a given subject.
A failure to distinguish between the three ethnic groups addressed in Scripturre.
A failure to consider the context.
A failure to understand the significance of prophetic gaps in the midst of a passage.
A failure to understand the purpose for parables.
Communication Gaps
Communication Gaps
If a communication gap exists between people who live on the same planet, speak the same language, are citizens of the same nation, and who are living at the same time in history, is it reasonable to assume that there are barriers between communication between God and man?
Sure!
I mean, He is God! All knowing, all powerful, everywhere at once!
And we are just people!
So four basic gaps seem to stand betwen us and better understanding of what God is saying at any particular place in Scripture:
The first is the Linguistic gap. Different men obviously use different languages at different places and times!
Vocabulary, and grammer change!
Then we have a cultural gap.
Cultural norms today are very different than they were 2000 years ago, on the other side of the world!
We have a geographical gap and a Historical gap to overcome also!
And that’s why a good study Bible or aid that explains cultural nuance of the time is so helpful!
Bible encyclopedias for example.
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
Consider this verse for example: (Explain.)
Any tool that helps us to understand the Bible languages, culture and history better, is worth the effort!
Here is something to remember: The Bible, and each passage of the Bible, has one interpretation.
“What it actually means.”
(Red Sea Deliverance example.)
Yet there can be many applications, so long as they align with the rest of Scripture.
Many applications, but only one interpretation.
Methods of Interpretation.
Methods of Interpretation.
There are five common ways in which man has interpreted the Bible since we have had it:
The first is the allegorical method, in which nothing is taken literallly! Everything is essentially some kind of allegory or code for a deeper, hidden meaning.
This method is incorrect, because it does not interpret Scripture and because it takes the Authority from the Scripture and gives it to the reader who can imagine that it truly means something other than what it actually says!
Those churches and people who are for example, allowing LGBTQ pastors and such? The only way they can gloss over what the Bible says about such things is if they say: “Well no, it actually means something other than what it says, some hidden meaning.”
Another method that people use to interpret the Bible is called the mystical method. It is almost the same as the allegorical method, only instead of one hidden meaning, this method says there can be many hidden meanings!
This essentially turns to chaos in which nobody and nothing is accountable to God!
Another method is called the devotional method. This says that the BIble is something that should only edify us and encourage us and make us feel good.
Reading the Bible this way is like eating nothing but desert. It may taste good, but it is not good for you and it is an incoplete diet!
If all you ever at was sweets, you would not live long!
Another Method, the rationalistic method, actually denies the miraculous and that the BIble is the inspired word of God.
This turns the Bible into some kind of classical literature rather than the literal Word of God!
Finally, we arrive at the correct method of interpreting Scripture: It is known as either the literal method or the grammatical, historical method.
This method holds that the meaning of any text can be determined by the considerations of grammar and history.
What the passagge reads, is literally true!
Miracles were actually miracles!
The Red Sea actually did open by the breath of God!
There literally were tongues of fire in the upper room on the day of Pentecost!
Miracles signs and wonders did happen and can happen today!
Now let us consider a principle known as the dispensational principle:
The dispensational principle.
The dispensational principle.
This has to do with discovering the way God administers or manages His affairs in relationship to people at different times thorughout human history.
We count seven dispensations, or different way God dealt with people at different times:
The first is the dispensation of Innocence which began with the creation of man, extending to the fall of man and expulsion from the garden of Eden.
We do not know how long this time period was, but after they had sinned, judgement came down on the serpant and the woman and the man and the earth and even the entire human race. Still God gave hope of a future redeemer!
Then we have the dispensation of conscience, beginning with the fall of man and extending to the worldwide flood. Yes, we believe the flood was worldwide because it literally says so!!!
This dispensation lasted for 1656 years. There was no law of Moses, and no BIble to live by back then!
So they lived according to their conscience.
And when man does that, things can go south very quickly!
Imagine a world where everybody did whatever the desired and had the power to do!
Now folks, God can fix anybody who is willing to be fixed!
But if you are not willing, His hands are tied!
The world became so desperately wicked, completely evil, that God had to wash it away and start fresh!
After the flood then came the dispensation of human government.’
This began after the flood and extended to the tower of Babel, 427 years!
God told Noah and his family to spread out, be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth.
They did not do that!
They all clumped together to make a tower to heaven, an insurance policy against God’s judgement for sin.
That is where he had to confuse their languages. Imagine that? You asking for a shovel in Swedish and your co worker able only to speak Farsi? Whatever root languages they were, were absolutely different from each other and so language drove men apart!
And later, under the New Covenant, we are going to see men speak in tongues, and God uses language once more, only this time, He uses language not to divide people, but to bring them back together!
After Babel then, came the dispensation of Promise.
It extended from the call of Abraham to the exodus from Egypt., 430 long years.
Next was the dispensation of Law, extending from Mt Sinai, to Mt Calvary.
This lasted 1491 years.
It ended with the coming of Christ and HIs complete fulfillmemnt of all the prophetic aspects of the law.
He fulfilled the law! And this is why we do not for example, observe the Jewish Sabath or other aspects of the law of Moses.
The books of Hebrews and Galatians explain tht we have a new and better Covenant!
The dispensation ended with judgement upon the nation of Israel as they rejected the Messiah and Jerusalem was ultimately destroyed with the Jewish people being scatterd all over the world!
This brings us to the dispensation of Grace!
This will last from the coming of the Holy Spirit, (the sounding of the bells!) until the second coming of Christ at the end of the great tribulation.
How long is it? We don’t know!
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
We do know that the rapture of the church will happen around 7 years before the Second Coming.
This church age that we are no living in, is a very exciting time!
Never has it been so easy to live for God than it is now!
Never have the benefits of living for God been so awesome and immediate!
During this time, God is visiting the Gentile nations to take out of them a people for His Name! All who will obey!
The seventh dispensation is the Millennium. (not a starship from starwars!)
This period extends from the Second Coming to the Great White Throne Judgement.
This dispensation will last 1000 years.
This is when many of the promises given to Abraham and to David come to pass!
The Lord Jesus Christ will personally take charge of the the running of the affairs of the world during that time and He will be large and in charge!
Now some folks have said this dispensation thing cannot be because it means God has more than one plan of salvation. They are incorrect!
God never changes!
Here then is what you need to know:
The Basis of salvation in every age is the death of Christ.
The requirement for salvation in every age is faith.
The object of faith in every age is God!
The content of faith and the way faith is expressed changes in the various dispensations
This is why Abraham was not baptized in Jesus Name. Jesus, the man aspect, did not exist yet! Only in the foreknowledge of God!
Abraham expressed His faith by doing what God told him to do!
Faith’s hall of fame in Hebrews 11? They obeyed God and expressed their faith in that same way! Individual obedience to what God had said.
They were essentially saved on credit until the explosion of Grace that took place on Mt. Calvary!
I know this is a little different today, but I want you to have every advantage to really understand the Scripture and rightly divide the Word of God!
This takes the guess work out of things!
This brings to us the solidity and the power of God’s unchanging Word!
There are more principles of interpreting Scripture that we will discuss soon, so that we can all have a clear understanding of Scripture!
It is so important!
If you are interested, moving forward we can discuss the covenents, conditional and unconditional.
We can look at the ethnic division principle, the first, progressive and full mention principle.
The double refence and the Christo Centric principle.
There are many good tools you can add to your Bible tool box!
If you want to know more, let me know!
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Before paper currency, money was minted coin.
That coin ws valued based upon it’s weight.
So much silver, so much gold. poured into molds and made coin.
The rough edges were then trimmed off. Well, some folks trimmed and kept trimming, in order to make more coins!
Thats why Instead of a till or cash register, merchants used scales.
They had to, because people would shave their coins thinner and thinner!
At one point it got so bad that in Athens, they passed no less then 80 laws pertaining to coins and preserving the value of their currency.
Some folks will always cheat right! We call them cheaters!
But then there were the select few, those merchants and traders who had a reputation for honesty.
Certain men who everyone knew were honest year after year and did not fool with the currency.
such men were called in that language: “Dokimos.”
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
“Approved” That word is “Dokemos.”
Study then to show yourself one who is honest!
Your currency is truth, and you deal in full measure!!!