How To A.C.T. When You Read The Bible

Some athletes have bizarre pre-game rituals that get them ready for a game. During the 1998 World Cup, the French team believed that their winning streak was tied to one player kissing another’s shaved head before each game. Other teams avoid wearing certain colors or eating certain foods. My grandpa and I have always had a joke that certain hats give us an edge when we go hunting. Another thing I do is lay out all of my clothing and pack my gym bag at night because I know that if I don’t do it the night before, then I’ll use that as an excuse to stay home. Whatever it might be, we can sometimes be funny about how we approach certain things. But there are also things that we approach without giving it a second thought. Well, what I want us to talk about today is how we approach the Bible, or how we ACT when we read it. You see, there are certain situations that you behave differently for. For instance, if I’m speaking at a funeral, I’m not going to turn into the tickle monster and chase people around like I do with Ella when we’re at home. In the same way, we want to be sure that we are approaching the Bible with the right attitude, because it is even more serious than a funeral; it is the Word of God.

So, if you are like me, and you have found yourself approaching the Bible like it’s just another thing to check off the list, then this is for you today. What I want us to know is that, “When I approach the Bible I need to A.C.T. right. Or, Acknowledge, Call, and Take.”

Acknowledge That It Is God’s Word

As we look here in verse 2 and 5, we find that God has given His word to the Apostles. Paul is one of them and in return, he, being moved by the Holy Spirit, wrote this letter to the Christians in Ephesus as he says in verse 3. This is what we call the Inspiration of Scripture and it’s also described in 2 Peter 1:21

2 Peter 1:21 NKJV

21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

So, what Paul is saying it that not only is his gospel the Word of God, but that this letter to the Ephesians is God’s Word. But that’s not all, in 2 Timothy 3:16 we read,

2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

This means that God has lovingly given us and preserved for us Genesis through Revelation that we might know Him and grow in His grace more and more.

So, what this means for us is that when we approach the Bible, we are holding something worth reading. It’s not like we’re reading a news article that might be false, or a Facebook post that might be biased. We are reading the very words of the God who created the whole universe. This should cause us to value it dearly and to take it seriously.

Call Out For The Spirit’s Help

In verse 3 Paul tells us that he has written what God has shown him and in verse 4 we find that he has done that so that when we read these things we might be able to understand these great things that God has shown Paul. But here’s the thing, we are like the Ethiopian Eunuch who, when asked if he understood the things he read said, “How can I unless someone guides me?”

1 Corinthians 2:9–12 NKJV

9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

What we learn here is that we cannot understand the Scriptures on our own. We must have help, this is why Paul prays this in Ephesians 1:16-19

Ephesians 1:16–19 NKJV

16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

Paul is praying that the Holy Spirit might come alongside of us to give us understanding of these truths. So, when you go home and open your Bible. Remind yourself that this is the most serious book in all the world and that we cannot understand it without the help of the Author Himself. So pray to Him and ask that He would help you to understand what you are reading.

Now, there are other blessings that God has given us as well. In Ephesians 4:11-14

Ephesians 4:11–14 NKJV

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

So, as you pray and ask for help, read the Bible carefully and prayerfully and if you struggle with what you’re reading; feeling free to give me a call or text anytime.

Take What You’ve Learned and Embrace It!

Paul says in verse three, “that you may perceive my insight.” Why do we want to understand the gospel? Because it is the message that changes lives and relationships. Just like we saw a few weeks ago, the gospel changes everything!

And in verse 6, we see the same thing again. That it is by this message that Jew and Gentile are brought together, that we actually have a place to belong all because of what Jesus did to us. This truth revolutionized Rome, it tore down division between those who were once blinded by idols or legalism and united them together and brothers and sisters. It is this message that changed them and Paul wants us to dive into the word of God because if we understand it’s power, we will walk away changed.

James 1:22–25 NKJV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

As we close, I want to give you a few reasons that you should read the Bible everyday, some of which I have heard from John Piper. You should read your Bible every day because God uses them to:

The Scriptures teach us of the glory of God.

The Scriptures sanctify us in our Christian walk.

The Scriptures give us grace and peace.

The Scriptures give us joy.

The Scriptures anchor us in truth.