The Place & Purpose Of The Bible In Your Life

[Michael37]

The Bible is more important to me than any other input. It serves to resolve every issue that life presents me.

The Bible is my source of Wisdom and my guide to abiding in the Vine.

The Bible is God's Word preserved for the benefit of mankind.

2Ti 3:16-17  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  (17)  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

All Scripture = All the Bible

When Timothy was written to by Paul his use of the term "all Scripture" covered:

• All the Books of what became known as the Old Testament
• All the Books that would become known as the New Testament

God-breathed means originating from God, the purposeful release of His Spirit upon His Creation.

Heb 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

1Pe 1:12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

2Pe 1:21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Joh 16:13-14 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (14) He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

Strangely there are professing Christians who find fault with the Bible and set it aside as too limiting and restrictive. For me the opposite is true and I find it revealing and liberating.

[Marilyn C]

Excellent topic Michael and much needed today.

`Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.` (Matt. 4: 4)

I was just thinking on this very topic today as a friend of mine tends to just potluck in the word. Meaning she just does anywhere and really nowhere consistently. So, we`ll be having this very discussion next time we share.

God`s word is like food for the spirit and the only eternal truth anywhere. God`s word refreshes the soul and spirit, comforts the heart, (soul) transforms the mind, guides the way, teaches us of eternal things and most of all open our eyes to our Saviour and Lord - His character and His Purposes.

[Sower]

 

                   "In the beginning was the Word"...

[other one]

1 hour ago, Marilyn C said:

Excellent topic Michael and much needed today.

`Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.` (Matt. 4: 4)

I was just thinking on this very topic today as a friend of mine tends to just potluck in the word. Meaning she just does anywhere and really nowhere consistently. So, we`ll be having this very discussion next time we share.

God`s word is like food for the spirit and the only eternal truth anywhere. God`s word refreshes the soul and spirit, comforts the heart, (soul) transforms the mind, guides the way, teaches us of eternal things and most of all open our eyes to our Saviour and Lord - His character and His Purposes.

Interesting...  During some of my driving around at my job (3,500 miles  a month)  I used to ask the Lord if he had a message for me that day.   I grabbed a CD and stuck it into the player in my car and pushed the seek button several times and listened.

Amazingly, within ten minutes, something popped up that touched on something I needed to know.

[farouk]

4 minutes ago, other one said:

Interesting...  During some of my driving around at my job (3,500 miles  a month)  I used to ask the Lord if he had a message for me that day.   I grabbed a CD and stuck it into the player in my car and pushed the seek button several times and listened.

Amazingly, within ten minutes, something popped up that touched on something I needed to know.

Prayer and the Scriptures are the very elements in which the true believer will live and breathe....

[Marilyn C]

10 minutes ago, other one said:

Interesting...  During some of my driving around at my job (3,500 miles  a month)  I used to ask the Lord if he had a message for me that day.   I grabbed a CD and stuck it into the player in my car and pushed the seek button several times and listened.

Amazingly, within ten minutes, something popped up that touched on something I needed to know.

Yes, that can happen however, for daily reading of God`s word I still believe we need to be disciplined and follow consecutively as God wrote it.

[other one]

1 hour ago, Marilyn C said:

Yes, that can happen however, for daily reading of God`s word I still believe we need to be disciplined and follow consecutively as God wrote it.

My wife just finished a chronological year-long bible reading program.  It is printed using the time flow of things as they actually happened.   She says it helped her understand some things better.

[Sower]

3 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

Yes, that can happen however, for daily reading of God`s word I still believe we need to be disciplined and follow consecutively as God wrote it.

You're probably right in going through the scriptures from start to finish, Marilyn. I did that early as a believer like most everyone else did back then, and even now in my men's bible study..
However I discovered areas of immediate understanding,  like Proverbs, my favorite, and then so much more scattered inside other books,  and throughout, needed nuggets for my situations within the whole bible.

I do not know/study so much about what happened back in the OT, nor what is going to happen in end times.
It's the here and now I am concerned with in my stage in this life. And I camp in those scriptures I need for this stage in my life.

I am a carpenter yet do considerable electrical work. I use the NEC (National Electric Codes) code book, electrician's bible.
I read it once. They update it yearly.  But I use it in a very condensed version, called "The Ugly's Book."
It has probably 95% of the most needed data of the NEC that a typical journeyman electrician needs/uses on the job.
It is a small hard paperback note book pocket size for easy reference. I have three, one in my shop-tool bag- truck.

I have adapted the same/similar methods with the word of God. I probably use 10% or less of total scriptures REGULARLY.
I look up something in a place I remember where I might find an answer. And my study may be prompted by a verse or commentary that could cause continued study. Undisciplined yet quickly available when needed.

But what I do know is what I need daily ON THE JOB. My walk, in the spirit, led by the spirit, abiding in the true vine.
Loving my God with my all, and loving my neighbor the same.  Doing Trying to do the right thing, allowing Christ to work through me, quick to listen slow to speak, pray, fast, worship, share the good news,  wash feet, help the needy, pinch the wife, visit shut ins, listening to  the spirit's prompting etc etc etc. This stuff is not in any chronological order in the bible.

A soldier in the army of God that faithfully makes a stand confronting the enemy, is going to get wounded. Soldiers need to know their weapons of warfare, and the wiles of our enemy. Not just hearers but doers. And the power of God, his promises, and the victory of the cross. I am concentrating in areas of scripture that will aid me in this. Works for my bent.


                                                "For we are God’s workmanship,

                                        created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

                                  which God prepared in advance as our way of life"

Thanks a bunch, Marilyn..
 

 

 

 

[Marilyn C]

1 minute ago, Sower said:

You're probably right in going through the scriptures from start to finish, Marilyn. I did that early as a believer like most everyone else did back then, and even now in my men's bible study..
However I discovered areas of immediate understanding,  like Proverbs, my favorite, and then so much more scattered inside other books,  and throughout, needed nuggets for my situations within the whole bible.

I do not know/study so much about what happened back in the OT, nor what is going to happen in end times.
It's the here and now I am concerned with in my stage in this life. And I camp in those scriptures I need for this stage in my life.

I am a carpenter yet do considerable electrical work. I use the NEC (National Electric Codes) code book, electrician's bible.
I read it once. They update it yearly.  But I use it in a very condensed version, called "The Ugly's Book."
It has probably 95% of the most needed data of the NEC that a typical journeyman electrician needs/uses on the job.
It is a small hard paperback note book pocket size for easy reference. I have three, one in my shop-tool bag- truck.

I have adapted the same/similar methods with the word of God. I probably use 10% or less of total scriptures REGULARLY.
I look up something in a place I remember where I might find an answer. And my study may be prompted by a verse or commentary that could cause continued study. Undisciplined yet quickly available when needed.

But what I do know is what I need daily ON THE JOB. My walk, in the spirit, led by the spirit, abiding in the true vine.
Loving my God with my all, and loving my neighbor the same.  Doing Trying to do the right thing, allowing Christ to work through me, quick to listen slow to speak, pray, fast, worship, share the good news,  wash feet, help the needy, pinch the wife, visit shut ins, listening to  the spirit's prompting etc etc etc. This stuff is not in any chronological order in the bible.

A soldier in the army of God that faithfully makes a stand confronting the enemy, is going to get wounded. Soldiers need to know their weapons of warfare, and the wiles of our enemy. Not just hearers but doers. And the power of God, his promises, and the victory of the cross. I am concentrating in areas of scripture that will aid me in this. Works for my bent.


                                                "For we are God’s workmanship,

                                        created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

                                  which God prepared in advance as our way of life"

Thanks a bunch, Marilyn..
 

 

 

Oh, I didn`t mean from start to finish, I meant like read a book all the way through not just pick and choose. Start anywhere but read the book, (epistle, gospel etc) as a whole. 

Like what you said about your study. And yes, I know all about `pinch the wife.` Why do men like that? No, don`t tell me. probably a sign of endearment.

[Neighbor]

9 hours ago, Michael37 said:

Strangely there are professing Christians who find fault with the Bible and set it aside as too limiting and restrictive. For me the opposite is true and I find it revealing and liberating.

Well I'll add a third scenario; I am limited by God, severely limited and loving it, for I have been pulled away from my freedom to do whatever and instead have a purpose defined by God's will for me over my own. It is good to have purpose and to know of it, awesome even, to be able to give up freedom to do harmful things, and instead have narrow focus upon God's will for me personally.