Getting into God's Word

Introduction

Last week we continued our Basic Training by looking at prayer—talking to God. We encouraged you to take two minutes in the morning and two minutes at night and challenged you to use the principles in the Lord’s Prayer and have an intimate talk with God.

We looked at how prayer is simply talking to God. This morning, we are continuing our Basic Training and we are going to look and see how God talks to us. The major way God talks to us is through His Word!

The Bible

Most of us accept some things about the Bible. For example, most Christians believe that the Bible is the Word of God.

Many have heard that the Bible is “the inspired Word of God” but may not really understand what it means.

So as we begin, let’s take a look at the Bible in order to get a better understanding of exactly what it is.

1. The Bible is a Library

Or a collection of 66 individual books. These books are written by more than 40 different authors, spanning a period of nearly 1,500 years.

Like any library it is divided into two major sections, which are called Testaments. The word “testament” means “covenant.” Webster’s Dictionary defines the word covenant as an agreement between two or more persons to do, or not do something specified.

The Bible is made up of two sub-libraries or testaments:

A. The Old Testament

This section contains 39 different books and covers the time from the creation of the world to the first advent (or coming) of Jesus.

It tells the story of God establishing a people for Himself. The various books record for us the times when God’s people were obedient to the covenant He made with them. But it also records for us the disobedience of His people, and the “consequence” for their rebellion.

This collection of books points towards a time when God would make a way to bring the entire world into a relationship with Him, rather than just the Jewish people (referred to as His chosen people).

The Old Testament has a number of different genres:

i. Historical Books

This section includes book like: Genesis, Exodus, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Esther, 1 & 2 Samuel, both Chronicles, and 1 & 2 Kings along with others.

ii. Wisdom Literature

Books like Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes.

iii. Prophetic Books

Which are books like Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Amos, Joel.

B. The New Testament

The remaining 27 book make up the New Testament.

Like the Old Testament it too includes various genres.

i. Historical Books

This would include the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; and the book of Acts.

ii. Letters (Epistles)

This sections includes letters from various Apostles like, Peter, John, James, and Paul.

iii. Prophetic Books

The New Testament has one prophetic book—the last book in the collection called the Book of the Revelation or the book of Apocalypses

The Bible, a wonderful library of 66 books that reveal God’s plan to all of humanity.

2. Sacred

The big question that so many people have is, “Why do we accept these 66 books rather than others?” Recently there have been some “documentaries” that have suggested that there are “lost books” like “the lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot,” or “the Gospel of Thomas” Quote, discoveries Unquote like these have caused people to question the authenticity of the books we have in our library—called the Bible.

Followers of Jesus, consider the 66 books in our library to be sacred for several reasons.

A. Jesus Referenced the Old Testament

The main reason that I accept the Old Testament is because Jesus accepted it as God’s Word. Passages like:

Matthew 5:18 NIV84

I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

The law—or Torah are the first five books of the Old Testament. Jesus acknowledge that God has and will preserve them for all time.

John 10:34–35 NIV84

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods’? If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—

In this passage, Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6 and calls it “Scripture.”

Or how about Mark 12:35-36?

Mark 12:35–36 NIV84

While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’

Once again, Jesus quotes from Psalm. This time Psalm 110:1.

These are but a few places where during His ministry, Jesus quoted from the Old Testament and used it as the authoritative Word of God.

B. The New Testament

i. Was Written About Jesus

Today, the church accepts the New Testament as Sacred because much of it tells the story of Jesus. The first five books deal with aspects of the life of Jesus and the rapid spread of the gospel message throughout the Roman empire.

ii. Authority of Apostles

Before Jesus left this world, he commissioned those who would lead the church. For the most part, this included the 12 original disciples (minus Judas Iscariot). In , but also included a few others He commissioned later—most notably the Paul.

These men came to be known “Apostles” which literally means sent one. In Matthew 28:19-20 we have what is referred to as “The Great Commission.”

Matthew 28:19–20 NIV84

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

While this is a command for us today, it was God’s commissioning of those who followed Him throughout His ministry.

In Luke 10, Jesus told His disciples that he was sending them. . .

Luke 10:3 NIV84

Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

Paul told King Agrippa that he was apostellō which means sent one. This is the same word used in Luke 10. Jesus both His disciples and Paul that they were sent ones.

This was not something that they set out to do, but rather they were sent out by Jesus. And they were also sent out with the authority of Jesus.

The human authors of the New Testament were these same ones sent by Jesus with His authority. So, the words they wrote also carry His authority and thus are sacred.

3. Inspired

Paul tells us that all scripture is God breathed.

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV84

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

The idea of God breathed is the essence of the doctrine of inspiration.

God took more than 40 different authors, over a period of 1,500 years and breathed into them His message to all of mankind! What an amazing thought. God took each writer’s personality, and unique qualities and breathed into them His message!

When I was a kid, one of the first verses I learned as a young teenager was 2 Timothy 2:15

Getting Into God’s Word

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 1900

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1. Study

I show you this because of one word. Study! The NIV says it with more modern language, but for many it misses the idea of the hard work of studying!

2 Timothy 2:15 NIV84

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

2. Workman

Nevertheless, the idea is still there. We need to work hard—do your best—to present ourselves to God as a workman. This Greek word literally means one who works the soil, husbandman, it generally implies hard labor.

To many people believe the Christian life just happens. Getting to know God’s Word just happens when you accept Jesus into your life. But that simply is not true. It takes work—HARD WORK!

3. Approved By God

This Greek word means tested, dependable, reliable, genuine, trustworthy. Here’s the question:

Are you working hard to prove yourselves genuine to God?

4. Not Ashamed

Paul tells Timothy, that he when he’s a workman who is approved by God, there is there will be no shame before God! There will be no disgrace before God.

People how think the Christian life just “happens” will feel shame and disgrace because they fail to understand that we live according to God’s plan rather than according to our plan!

5. Correctly Handling the Word of Truth

This is the Greek word orthotomeō which has several meanings. The literal meaning is guide along a straight path, or cut a straight line, it is often translated teach correctly, or expound rightly.

Every follower of Jesus has an immense responsibility to handle the word of truth. The idea of “truth” is the unveiled reality.

So accurately knowing God’s Word can help us guide people straight to the unveiled reality of God! But to do this we must be a diligent workman who seeking to understand the deep things of God’s Word!

Conclusion

The more you and I understand the intricacies of God’s Word the more we grow to understand how to live our lives the way God wants us to live. And the better we will be able to share the unveiled wonder of God!

So this week, I want to challenge you to do two things every day!

Continue your time talking to God. You can use the A.C.T.S. method.

Adoration—praising God for who He is!

Confession—confessing your sins to the Lord.

Thanksgiving—think of specific ways you can give thanks to the Lord God.

Supplication—asking God to supply the specific needs. Ask for others and then ask for yourself.

Spend 7 minutes with God!

1/2 Minute—preparing your heart.

4 Minutes—Bible Reading. If you don’t know where to start reading, remember the Bible is a Library of books. So start with one of the books that tells the story of Jesus!

2 1/2 Minutes—Praying using the A.C.T.S. method.